Newly married Mathew Leckie scored with the last kick of the game to give Australia a 1-0 win over Greece in Sydney yesterday.
The Socceroos dominated the friendly, but could not convert that into goals before German-based substitute Leckie scored only his third goal in his 30th international deep into stoppage-time.
Tim Cahill had a goal disallowed only minutes before when a corner was deemed to have crossed the line before the veteran Socceroo headed home and set off on a celebratory run, waving his shirt above his head.
Photo: Reuters
It was only what Australia deserved having dominated possession and chances against a Greece team who missed out qualifying for this month’s Euro 2016 in France.
“There is a lot of talk that I don’t score enough as a forward and I always try and keep it out of my mind and I would like to score more for the national team,” said Leckie, who got married this week. “Lucky enough that I got one today and hopefully I can start a bit of momentum with goals.”
Greece, who are to play Australia again in Melbourne on Tuesday, have an injury worry with their first-choice goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis taken to hospital for X-rays for possible broken ribs after a first-half collision that forced him from the field.
Karnezis came off worse after a heavy collision with Australia captain Mile Jedinak going for a high corner midway through the opening half, and was subsequently replaced by Stefanos Kapino.
In international friendlies on Friday, Switzerland defeated Moldova 2-1 in Lugano, Switzerland; Romania thrashed Georgia 5-1 in Bucharest; while in Bergamo, Italy, Albania lost to Ukraine 3-1.
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