Arzani fires first goal as Caltex Socceroos top Hungary

Youngster Daniel Arzani has grabbed his first senior international goal as the Caltex Socceroos earned a 2-1 win over against Hungary in Budapest in their final friendly before the FIFA World Cup™.

With the first test in Group C against France in Kazan now less than a week away, Australia looked to be heading for a draw until Arzani’s strike, before the two sides exchanged late own goals.

WATCH DANIEL ARZANI'S GOAL IN THE VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Arzani’s introduction and impact will please coach Bert van Marwijk and Aussie fans, with the Melbourne City attacker coming off the bench in the 73rd minute and scoring inside two minutes when he unleashed a shot from outside the box which dipped in front of goalkeeper Denes Dibusz.

It then looked as if the game was headed for a draw when central defender Trent Sainsbury was involved in an unfortunate late mix up with goalkeeper Brad Jones to score an 88th minute own goal.

RE-LIVE THE GAME IN OUR MATCH CENTRE

But it was then another own goal, this time by Hungary captain Tamas Kadar, which capped off a near three-week training block with their second win in as many tune up games following last week’s win over the Czech Republic.

Arzani was also involved in the eventual winner, playing a through ball in for fellow substitute Jackson Irvine who fizzed a ball across goal which saw Kadar turn the ball into his own net in the 92nd minute.

The Caltex Socceroos will now travel to Kazan for their final days of training before facing France at 8pm AEST on Saturday 16 June.

CALTEX SOCCEROOS TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Mathew Ryan; Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury, Mark Milligan, Aziz Behich; Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo; Mathew Leckie, Tom Rogic, Robbie Kruse; Andrew Nabbout

Substitutes: Brad Jones on for Ryan (45’), Mile Jedinak on for Luongo (45’), Tomi Juric on for Nabbout (45’), Jackson Irvine on for Rogic (63’), Daniel Arzani on for Kruse (73’), Tim Cahill on for Juric (80’)

STORY OF THE GAME

• 17’ OFFSIDE — A moment of good combination down the right between Leckie and Risdon allowed the Caltex Socceroos to break into the front third before switching out to the left. Behich’s delivery found Kruse in the box who looped his shot onto the crossbar, only for the offside flag to be raised.
• 20’ CHANCE — Again an interchange from Leckie and Risdon allowed a crossing opportunity for Australia, this time from the right. And again Kruse was the man on the end of it, firing over the bar with a first time shot with time in the box.
• 22’ CHANCE — Ryan was forced into his first intervention of the match after a Hungary long throw caused flutters in the box and Adam Szalai used his physical presence before failing to divert Laszlo Kleinheisler’s shot on target.
• 30’ SAVE — Nerves started to creep into van Marwijk’s side after a series of mistakes. That culminated in Ryan being forced into a last ditch save, and Luongo a goal line clearance after Milligan turned the ball over while building up from the back.
• 37’ POST — A simple long ball from the back from Tamas Kadar nearly led to the spectacular when Kleinheisler picked up the second ball and unleashed a dipping, first time volley from distance that skimmed off the top of the crossbar. 

• 45+1’ CHANCE — Australia were forced to clear off the line again, this time Risdon from a corner after Kadar wriggled in front of Milligan and headed towards the far corner of the goal.
• 60’ CHANCE — Hungary continued their good build up play in the second half and went around the outside of Australia’s block to get a cross in from the right. Szalai’s header, from in front of the near post, flew into the side netting.
• 68’ SAVE — Irvine came off the bench and forced a save within minutes of being introduced after firing a Risdon cutback on target.
• 74’ GOAL! — Arzani, just a minute after being introduced, grabbed his first Caltex Socceroos goal after picking up the ball outside the box and firing a vicious, dipping drive that forced a goalkeeping error.
• 88’ OWN GOAL — With just minutes remaining until the Caltex Socceroos closed out a win, a miscommunication between Sainsbury and Jones saw the central defender head the ball into his own net after a cross from the right.
• 92’ OWN GOAL — This time it’s Hungary’s turn to find the back of their own net, with skipper Kadar diverting Irvine’s cross over the line.