If last week’s clash gave Socceroos fans a glimpse of the future, this was a much longer, clearer and probably more realistic look at what lies ahead, at least in the immediate term. Arnold handed a debut to Gauci, the Adelaide United custodian, a second cap to Hearts midfielder Cameron Devlin, a third to former Melbourne Victory defender Deng, and a first start in almost two years for Borrello, who played up front in the striking role he has excelled in this season for Western Sydney Wanderers.

Hometown lad Jackson Irvine wore the captain’s armband for the first time, becoming just the 63rd player to skipper the Socceroos in the team’s 100-year history.

Curiously, Arnold chose not to use 17-year-old excitement machine Nestory Irankunda, who was in line to become the youngest Socceroos player of all time. Manchester City youngster Alex Robertson was also an unused sub.

While they spent the latter part of the first half - and most of the second - on the back foot, Australia started brightly enough. Borrello hit the opener in the 15th minute when the in-form Craig Goodwin’s shot cannoned off the right post and rolled straight to him, with an open goal at his mercy. He celebrated with a backflip; but it proved the only breakthrough from their opening blitz.

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Gauci was kept increasingly busy, making two key interventions to deny Kevin Rodriguez, who brushed past Deng to go one-on-one with the rookie goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. It would be hard to imagine a more confident start to his Socceroos career – and the team needed it, given the way Ecuador wrestled back the momentum as the opening stanza wore on.

In midfield, Devlin smothered Premier League star Moises Caicedo – then copped an accidental knee to the head from Pacho. Blood gushed everywhere until team medicos were able to intervene.

He wasn’t the only one in the wars. Bailey Wright, who slotted into defence alongside Deng for the injured Harry Souttar, also copped a heavy hit to the head in a challenge but played the full 90 minutes.

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