Socceroo 1993 Matches

Socceroo Internationals for 1993

Written by Thomas Esamie, Greg Stock, Frank Scicluna and Jean-Michel Cazal. For more details see credits.


Australia started their preparation for World Cup qualifiers with a series of two games against Kuwait in Singapore. This was a friendly match.
Played : April 15 Venue : Woodlands Stadium, Singapore
Kuwait
(Lineup unavailable)
0 - 1 Australia
Robert Zabica, Andrew Marth, Stan Lazaridis, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Milan Blagojevic, Branko Milosevic, Paul Wade (c), Steve Corica, Paul Trimboli (Warren Spink 78), Carl Veart (Damian Mori 49)
Goal : Trimboli 10
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia)


The second game was also played in Singapore. This was a friendly match.
Played : April 19 Venue : Woodlands Stadium, Singapore
Kuwait
(Lineup unavailable)
Goals : A Ashour 57, W Habashi 60, 79
3 - 1 Australia
Robert Zabica, Tony Vidmar, Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Jason Polak, Damian Mori (Andrew Marth 78), Paul Wade (c) (Brank Milosevic 70), Steve Corica (Stan Lazaridis 56), Warren Spink (Paul Trimboli 46), Carl Veart
Goal : Wade 16pk
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia)


Australia played New Zealand in a two legged home and away series to decide the Oceania winner of the World Cup Qualifying series. New Zealand had qualified by winning their group. The first leg was played away in Auckland, with the return leg a week later in Melbourne. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : May 30 Venue : Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand
Clint Gosling, Michael Ridenton, Rodger Gray, Ceri Evans, Malcolm Dunford (Perry Cotton 71), Christopher Riley, Danny Halligan, Michael McGarry (Vaughan Coveny 80), Robert Ironside, Frederick De Jong (sent off 70), William Wright
0 - 1 Australia
Mark Bosnich, Dominic Longo, Mehmet Durakovic, Ned Zelic, Alex Tobin, Branko Milosevic (Jason Polak 70), Robbie Slater, Paul Wade (c), Frank Farina (Carl Veart 18), Graham Arnold, Jason van Blerk
Goal : Arnold 55
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Ian Marshall (New Zealand)
Crowd : 10952
Referee : Bo Karlsson (Sweden)
Match Report by Thomas Esamie


With the win in the second leg, Australia took the tie 4-0 on aggregate. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : June 6 Venue : Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia
Australia
Mark Bosnich, Dominic Longo, Mehmet Durakovic, Ned Zelic, Alex Tobin, Jason Polak, Robie Slater, Aurelio Vidmar, Carl Veart (Paul Trimboli 65), Graham Arnold (c), Jason van Blerk
Goals : Veart 1, A Vidmar 3, Zelic 49
3 - 0 New Zealand
Clint Gosling, Michael Ridenton, Rodger Gray, Ceri Evans, Malcolm Dunford, Christopher Riley, Danny Halligan, Michael McGarry, Robert Ironside (Vaughan Coveny 61), Heremai "Harry" Ngata, Darren McClennan
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Ian Marshall (New Zealand)
Referee : Jacobs Ullenberg
Match Report by Thomas Esamie


The Socceroos travelled to Canada to play the away leg of the next stage of two legged world cup qualifiers. The winner of the games would then go onto play a South Amreican based opponent for a spot at USA 94. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : July 31 Venue : Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
Canada
Craig Forrest, Frank Yallop, Mark Watson, Nick Dasovic (Carl Valentine 46), Mike Sweeney, Dale Mitchell, Lyndon Hooper, Colin Miller (c), John Limniatis (Norman Odinga 46), Domenic Mobilio, Alex Bunbury
Goals : Watson 52, Mobilio 57
2 - 1 Australia
Robert Zabica (sent off 17), Milan Blagojevic (Mark Schwarzer 17), Mehmet Durakovic, Ned Zelic, Alex Tobin, Paul Okon, Robbie Slater, Aurelio Vidmar (Jason Polak 69), Frank Farina, Graham Arnold (c), Jason van Blerk
Goal : Dasovic 44og
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia) Bob Lenarduzzi (Canada)
Referee : Arturo Carter (Mexico)
Crowd : 27775
Match Report by Thomas Esamie


The home leg was a remarkable match. Needing to score a 1 goal win the Socceroos found themselves in front 2-1 at the end of 90 minutes and again at the end of extra time. The match was then decided by penalties where Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer covered himself in glory by saving 2 penalties and helping the Socceroos to a 4-1 win on penalties to advance to play Argentina for the final World Cup spot. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : August 15 Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia
Australia
Mark Schwarzer, Tony Vidmar, Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Ned Zelic (Paul Wade 100), Robbie Slater (David Mitchell 75), Aurelio Vidmar, Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, Jason van Blerk
Goals : Farina 45, Durakovic 77
Penalty goals : Wade, A Vidmar, Tobin, Farina
2 - 1 Canada
Craig Forrest, Frank Yallop, Mark Watson, Mike Sweeney, Randy Samuel, Colin Miller, Lyndon Hooper, Nick Dasovic (Grant Needham 108), Domenic Mobilio (Carl Valentine 46), Alex Bunbury, Dale Mitchell
Goal : Hooper 55
Penalty goals : Mitchell, Bunbury - saved, Sweeney - saved
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Bob Lenarduzzi
Referee : Shin-Ichiro Obata (Japan)
Linesmen : T Oono, M Yamaguchi
Crowd : 25982
Match Report by Thomas Esamie


In September 1993, Australia travelled to Seoul to play two friendly games against South Korea. This was a friendly match.
Played : September 24 Venue : Seoul, South Korea
South Korea
(Lineup unavailable)
Goal : Seo J W 35
1 - 1 Australia
Robert Zabica, Tony Vidmar, Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Jason Polak, Francis Awaritefe, Paul Wade (c), Steve Corica (Damian Mori 80), Kimon Taliadoros (Branko Milosevic 70), Stan Lazaridis
Goal : Mori 85
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia)


The second game was played two days later. This was a friendly match.
Played : September 26 Venue : Seoul, South Korea
South Korea
(Lineup unavailable)
Goal : Lee G B 75'
1 - 0 Australia
Robert Zabica, Tony Vidmar, Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Jason Polak, Branko Milosevic (Matthew Bingley 46), Paul Wade (c), Steve Corica (Francis Awaritefe 63), Damian Mori (Kimon Taliadoros 70), Paul Trimboli (George Slifkas 65)
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia)


Australia had now qualified to meet Argentina in a two legged play-off for the final spot at USA 94. The Argentinian side were considered favourites boasting stars like Maradona, Redondo and Batistuta. However in the first leg Australia held their own and even though Argentina scored first Australia fought back to level in to provide a great game for the full house at the Sydney Football Stadium. The game was considerd by many to be Australias greatest as they matched strides with their more fancied opponents forcing the result to be achieved in the second leg in Buenos Aires. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : October 31 Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia
Australia
Mark Bosnich, Tony Vidmar (David Mitchell 72), Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Ned Zelic, Aurelio Vidmar, Paul Wade (c), Robbie Slater, Graham Arnold, Jason van Blerk
Goal : A Vidmar 43
1 - 1 Argentina
Sergio Goycochea, Jorge Borelli, Sergio Vasquez, Jose Chamot, Carlos MacAllister, Hugo Perez, Fernando Redondo, Jose Basualdo (Gustavo Zapata 70), Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Abel Balbo (Fernando Caceres 89)
Goal : Balbo 37
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Alfio Basile (Argentina)
Referee : Sandor Puhl (Hungary)
Linesmen : S Marton, L Varga (both Hungary)
Crowd : 43,967 (Ground Record)
Match Report by Thomas Esamie
Match Report by Tim Hatfield


The second leg in Buenos Aires was a disappointing result for Australia. Although they matched their opponents for most of the game, the home side driven by a parochial crowd got the result 1-0 and advanced to USA 94 at the expense of the gallant Socceroos. This was a World Cup Qualifying match.
Played : November 17 Venue : Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina
Sergio Goycochea, Jose Chamot, Sergio Vasquez, Oscar Ruggeri, Carlos MacAllister, Hugo Perez, Fernando Redondo, Diego Simeone, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Abel Balbo (Gustavo Zapata 70)
Goal : Tobin 58og
1 - 0 Australia
Robert Zabica, Tony Vidmar (Carl Veart 64), Mehmet Durakovic, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Frank Farina, Aurelio Vidmar, Paul Wade (c), Robbie Slater, Graham Arnold, Jason van Blerk
Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Alfio Basile (Argentina)
Referee : Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
Crowd : 59768
Match Report by Thomas Esamie