Soccer win to Australia

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 40

Soccer win to Australia

NZPA Ba. Fiji, The Australian Socceroos scored a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over a Taiwanese “surprise package” in Ba yesterday, in a rough, tough match marred by mud and malice.

It was a different story from Australia’s easy 3-C win over Taiwan last Sunday. The Taiwanese came into the game much more in yesterday’s treacherous conditions, and jumped to a shock 1-0 lead. Their tackles were often savage, and three of their players were booked during a fiery three-minute spell in the secund half. One of the bookings came after a foul on Australian forward Atti Abonyi, which caused a heated scuffle among about a dozen players.

Taiwan struck its shock blow after 28 minutes, when Fang latched on to a throughball and sent a low shot past the Australian goalie, Todd Clarke. The Australians struck back seven minutes later when forward John Kosmina headed home a corner. What proved to be Australia’s winning goal came 12 minutes into the second half when Abonyi pushed in the decider from a goal-mouth melee.

Four minutes later Abonyi was sliced down savagely as he made a brilliant run towards the goal. Taiwan’s captain, Hsu, w r ho was booked in Sunday’s match, received another caution. A scuffle broke out but was quelled when heavy rain suddenly bucketed down.