Qatar, Our Bunnies !

We are all thinking it but nobody is saying it. We own Qatar !

Yes they have just lost their coach to illness and yes the conditions last night couldn’t have suited Australia more or Qatar less but still they were like rabbits caught in the crosshairs of an oncoming semi-trailer.

Australia has scored 10 Goals in 3 games against the Gulf nation in the space of 8 months the same number of goals we have scored in the other 8 matches combined that we have played in that space of time.

From the opening whistle last night it was apparent that Qatar was already on the back foot. To have any chance of taking a point away they need to squeeze the space in midfield and deny Australia easy possession in the transition to attack. But right from the start Australia knocked the ball around with confidence and Qatar let them do as they pleased. It played into Australia’s hands and the enviable happened, a cross found a Carney was knocked on, found a second head in Josh Kennedy and fell to Super Tim and he shown why he is held in such high regard as a goal poacher, the guy just knows when to make his run and is a deadly finisher.

The penalty Cahill earned a short time later was well taken by Brett Emerton and left Qatar floundering. Half Time would have seen a very happy Pim Verbeek in the club rooms and asking his team more of the same please.

The second half saw Sterjovski replaced Chippers but very little changed in terms of the game. Qatar tried to be more aggressive in midfield but they were simply being outclassed. The passage of play that saw Brett Emerton slot through his second was a pleasure to watch and something that I am sure had every Socceroos fan in the country smiling. Clever one touch passing drew the Qatar defence out to the left opening up space for Emerton to run into, McDonald provided a clever run, a spot on pass to Josh Kennedy, a quick turn and through ball to the charging Emerton, beautiful to watch…more of that please.
Josh Kennedy’s goal was well deserve after a fantastic effort as the target man. He dominated the Qatar defence last night and typically it was a well timed cross from Luke Wilkshire that saw he head home our final goal.

Speaking of Wilkshire, he seems to have cemented his spot as our right back now and appears to be getting better every game. He cops a decent amount of criticism on the fan forums but I must say I am warming to him. He was rock solid last night, flashy he is not but I love the way he just goes about his business.

To say Australia bullied Qatar last night was an understatement, yes the Saudi ref was over keen on the whistle but Australia made sure that there was no easy possession for Qatar and it worked. By taking away the Qatar players ability to charge at the defence Australia took away their main weapon, Sebastian Quintana. Quintana was well held last night but he would have been a frustrated man with the lack of service to his feet.

With two wins from two and Bahrain away next the Aussies are well placed and Pim must be feeling vert satisfied. I doubt we will get a full squad next match (non-FIFA match day) so it will be interesting to see how we go with a reduced squad.

,