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The Socceroos have started their Asian Cup campaign in winning but underwhelming fashion in Qatar, grinding out a 2-0 victory over the world's No.102 side, India.
Australia had intended to start the tournament with a bang against the group B minnows in Doha on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
They instead fizzled at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium until Jackson Irvine pounced on an error from India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and scored in the 50th minute.
Riley McGree then teed up fellow substitute Jordy Bos to score his first international goal and effectively ensure victory in the 73rd minute.
It was coach Graham Arnold's first opening-match win at his third Asian Cup in charge.
The Socceroos lacked attacking incisiveness in a sluggish first half, despite dominating possession and racking up 11 corners.
After an uncertain start, Australia walked away relatively unscathed.(Getty: Robert Cianflone)
Australia had 14 first-half shots but just two on target as India, with plenty of support in the stands, scrambled brilliantly defensively and were aggressive, dangerous and quick on the counter.
Socceroos captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan returned from a fractured cheekbone donning a Batman-like black protective face mask, but he was rarely challenged.
Arnold opted for an experienced line-up, selecting Aziz Behich over Bos at left-back, while newcomer Gethin Jones started at right-back.
Kye Rowles was picked alongside Harry Souttar at centre-back ahead of Cameron Burgess.
Despite Australia's lethargic start, Behich and Martin Boyle snatched at a couple of early chances while India's Sunil Chhetri headed a good opportunity tantalisingly wide.
Connor Metcalfe's scrambling shot forced a save in the 21st minute and after the half-hour mark, the Socceroos cranked up the pressure — only to be consistently thwarted by India's desperate defence.
Suresh Wangjam fired India's first shot on target straight at Ryan in injury time.
Australia started the second half with more intent and broke through when Singh Sandhu leapt to meet a Boyle cross.
He parried the ball straight to Irvine, who chested it down and made no mistake with a pressure-relieving left-footed finish.
Australia played far better after the goal and kicked up another gear when Arnold turned to Riley McGree and Sam Silvera in the 64th minute and Bos and Bruno Fornaroli in the 72nd.
A minute later, McGree danced into the box from the right wing then cut back for Bos to tap home with his first touch of the game.
Fornaroli had a free kick saved while Bos dragged an 88th-minute shot wide as Australia peppered India's goal late without reward.
Look back at how all the action unfolded in our live blog below.
AAP
Final thoughts
Well, they did what they needed to do: shake off the rust, win their first game, and get through it all relatively unscathed.
It wasn't a pretty game, especially the first half, but it's encouraging that the Socceroos' bench has such depth and quality now that substitutes are able to change the game.
Goals to Jackson Irvine and Jordan Bos were enough to secure the three points, though there will be questions over how just 6 of Australia's 28 total shots were on target, with only two finding their way into the net.
India, to their credit, defended solidly for the first hour, with their goalkeeper a particular and centre-backs particular stand-outs. But Australia's quality eventually shone through and the waves of relentless attacks broke through the blue dam wall, deservedly so.
That's it for now. I'll be back to join you for the Socceroos' second group game of the Asian Cup against Syria on Thursday.
Goodnight!
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Full-time: Australia 2 - 0 India
95' You have a shot! And you have a shot!
The Aussies are ending this game with a bang, with Sam Silvera, Jackson Irvine, and Bruno Fornaroli all taking turns to shoot inside the box as India's defenders scramble and throw themselves in front of the ball.
There's a short pause to check a potential hand-ball, but the referee waves it on.
Time's up.
93' First yellow card
And it's to substitute Vikram Partap Singh for a reckless studded stomp on Aiden O'Neill.
90' 6 minutes of added time
The game is winding down now, and the Socceroos are kinda just moving it around because they have to, but there's no real urgency to get forward or string anything together now.
Fair enough: all they needed from this game was a win and no injuries before they face more challenging opponents in the next two group games.
But there are definitely questions around how Australia unlock these deep defences, because it took over an hour and a couple different substitutions before they really looked capable of doing so.
88' India substitution
Captain Sunil Chhetri, who's been India's biggest weapon, is now off the field. He's replaced by Vikram Partap Singh.
Naorem Mahesh Singh also comes on for Lallianzuala Chhangte.
87' Jordan Bos comes close!
India's entire defensive line was pulled towards the left side like moths to a flame, with McGree finding Bos totally open on the opposite side of the field as he cuts across the box.
The ball finds Bos' feet, and he has enough time to push it back onto his preferred foot and take a low fizzing shot, but it just skims wide of the far post.
So close!
83' Nice football
Arnold's substitutions have been excellent: Bos, McGree and Fornaroli have had some lovely, energising touches and angled runs that have sent the Indians into a spin.
A fabulous pattern of passes just took place in and around India's box, with players weaving in and out of each other, in a much more co-ordinated and confident manner.
Shame it's taken until the final ten minutes of the game for them to find this rhythm, but the first game of any tournament is always a bit rusty. Let's hope they're able to show more of this in the next game against Syria.
80' Australia substitution
The excellent Keanu Baccus is replaced by Aiden O'Neill.
Bruno Fornaroli took a free kick from just outside the box a minute ago after someone was bundled over unnecessarily.
It was a cracking shot - powerful and curling - but Sandhu did well to palm it away to safety.
80' Australia 2 - 0 India
Ten minutes of regulation time left, and India's attackers aren't giving up.
They're trying to burst forward in transition, with a nice combination play down the left a minute ago, but Australia's players are simply too fast and smart to let them get anywhere near the box.
The Indians are starting to tire out now. They know this game is done. They might just settle in for the final ten to prevent copping any more goals.
77' India substitution
Deepak Tangri seemed to cop an injury at some point in the last few minutes, so he's replaced by Anirudh Thapa.
74' India substitutions
They'll need some fresh legs to compete with Australia's new players, you'd think!
Liston Colaco comes on for Suresh Singh Wangjam, while Akash Mishra replaces Subhasish Bose.
72' GOAL AUSTRALIA
JORDAN BOS WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE GAME!
It's the young full-back's first international goal, and it's a simple tap-in after a great charging run down the right wing from Riley McGree.
Bruno Fornaroli made a great diverting run to attract India's defenders, with Bos' run totally unchecked at the back post for a basic pass into the net.
Great subs, Arnie. Great subs.
2-0.
71' Australia substitition
Craig Goodwin and Mitch Duke depart the field, replaced by Bruno Fornaroli and Jordan Bos.
68' And it almost happens!
A well-timed Indian press of Australia's defenders sees an attempted clearance clang off an Indian attacker's shin and go rolling past Ryan and towards the Socceroos' goal.
Mercifully, the ball spins along a trajectory that takes it wide of the post, but hoo boy that could've been embarrassing had it been on target.
65' Australia 1 - 0 India
Bat Ryan seemed to get a bit bored, going for a bit of a wander as India almost slipped in behind Australia's right-back, but the threat was easily dealt with by Gethin Jones.
I'm sure I could count the number of touches Ryan has had all game on one hand. He's done very little, so I'm not surprised he wants to stretch his legs a bit. But he'd better be careful: we've seen India's keeper already try to chip him from the opposite box. Who knows what could happen.
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