First half freeze frame
HALF TIME #HALFTIME
Ollie Watkins scored the lone goal in the 57th minute as Gareth Southgate’s England beat their historic rivals Australia at Wembley Stadium
Michael Dominski
October 13, 2023 at 5:37 PM EDT
(Photo: Getty Images)
First half freeze frame
(Photo: Getty Images)
Ollie Watkins rounds Australia captain Mathew Ryan and slots the ball towards the unguarded net – only to see the effort come back off the inside of the post and then cleared from danger.
It was the closest either side came to scoring, although Australia had the greater number of chances.
England captained by Al Ettifaq player
(Photo: Getty Images)
HT: England 0-0 Australia
Al Ettifaq are the 11th club from outside of Great Britain to have a player serve as England captain in a match:
Half-time stats
Well, that half had some lively moments and both teams had their chances – although Australia’s felt the better.
The half-time stats back that up too…
England 0-0 Australia
Australia the better side in first half
HT: England 0-0 Australia
That was definitely a half-time whistle greeted by a few boos from the Wembley crowd.
Australia had the better chances going forward and held their own defensively.
HT: England 0-0 Australia
It’s Australia’s turn to make a brilliant defensive play, as Leicester City defender Souttar makes a brilliant sliding tackle to deny Watkins sending a cross in from close range near the byline.
England earn a corner but the referee doesn’t allow them to take it, much to the chagrin of the home supporters.
First-half stoppage time
45+1′ England 0-0 Australia
Just one minute added on to the end of the first half.
Brilliant block by Dunk!
44′ England 0-0 Australia
Fantastic hold-up play by Boyle sets up Strain to hit a shot at an open net, but Dunk makes an incredible recovery to block his effort!
Ref controlling match’s temperature
(Photo: Getty Images)
42′ England 0-0 Australia
It’s a friendly and had been that so far, but in the last five minutes we’ve had Levi Colwill and Keanu Baccus shoving each other while carrying a smile, and then Conor Gallagher with a ridiculous challenge flying off the ground, taking out Craig Goodwin from behind.
Fair from referee Stephanie Frappart that they all got booked for the trouble – and nice to see a bit of spark as the game heads into a bit of a lull in tempo and quality.
Strain booked
39′ England 0-0 Australia
Grealish pokes the ball around Strain and the English-born Australia player responds by cynically blocking Grealish from advancing.
Strain goes into the book on his full debut for Australia.
First three bookings
35′ England 0-0 Australia
Colwill and Baccus get into a shoving match, earning themselves each a booking.
Moments later, Gallagher commits a rash foul and sees yellow as well.
Australia creating chances
(Photo: Getty Images)
29′ England 0-0 Australia
Have to say, bar one cross that flashed through the Australia penalty area, the visitors have had by far the better sights of goal so far in this first half.
Then right on cue, Ollie Watkins really should give England the lead.
Australia so far finding the balance between the right moments for defensive intensity and then carrying an attacking threat themselves.
Watkins hits the post!
29′ England 0-0 Australia
Following the chance on Australia’s corner, Watkins breaks free on goal from midfield going the other way.
He rounds the onrushing keeper Ryan and has an open net to aim at, but hits the post!
A defender was just arriving at the last moment and may have gotten a touch on the ball as well.
Australia nearly score on corner
28′ England 0-0 Australia
The visitors have their third corner of the match and England fail to deal with it. The ball is momentarily cleared but sent right back in.
After a mad scramble, the ball falls to the feet of Rowles, who flashes a snap shot just over the crossbar.
Duke comes close
22′ England 0-0 Australia
Duke makes sweet contact on a first-time shot, receiving a powerful cross and whipping it goalwards.
He fails to hit the target but not by much.
Grealish and the brothers Strain
20′ England 0-0 Australia
Good battle ongoing between Jack Grealish and Australia right-back Ryan Strain of…checks notes…St Mirren!
Strain started his football life at Aston Villa’s academy and his brother Tom (also in the academy) lived with…Jack Grealish. It’s a small world.
Comparing Alexander-Arnold and Grealish
(Photo: Getty Images)
17′ England 0-0 Australia
I really like what I’m seeing from Trent Alexander-Arnold when he sits in midfield as England build play. His vision from that position looks a threat whenever the ball is at his feet.
Sadly it feels the opposite whenever Jack Grealish is involved. So far each time he’s received the ball wide on the left, Australia have looked comfortable shepherding him back inside the pitch.
Australia’s first chance
12′ England 0-0 Australia
The sizeable gold and green contingent are on their feet as Sam Johnstone has to push Keanu Baccus’ curler around the post.
Great effort from the…checks notes…St Mirren man. Australia growing in confidence.
England’s first chance
8′ England 0-0 Australia
England create the first real chance of the night and Bowen releases Gallagher on the right wing.
He whips a cross into the centre that somehow eludes the sliding finish of Maddison, and then goes through the legs of Watkins as well!
Club team-mates in Australia’s midfield
5′ England 0-0 Australia
Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe start tonight. They’re also team-mates at club level for St. Pauli, who are currently top of Germany’s 2. Bundesliga. Both are having truly excellent seasons.
If you have the time, find the goal Metcalfe scored against Kiel a few weeks ago. Don’t be surprised if you see that on the Puskas Award shortlist.