Australia 5-1 Indonesia: Rampant hosts tighten grip on World Cup qualification spot

Australia cruised to only their second victory in World Cup qualifying by beating Indonesia 5-1 at home.

The victory was much-needed for the Socceroos, who had previously only beaten China in this qualifying campaign and had been in danger of slipping out of an automatic qualification spot.

Thursday’s contest could not have started much worse for Australia, who conceded a penalty in the opening seven minutes after Rafael Struick was taken out by Kye Rowles. But Kevin Diks could not convert from the spot, hitting the post.

Indonesia were soon made to pay, with Australia themselves awarded a penalty after a tussle in the box between Martin Boyle and Nathan Tjoe-A-On. Boyle himself took the spot-kick, slamming a finish into the bottom-left corner.

It was 2-0 when Nishan Velupillay found himself free through the middle and knocked the ball over Maarten Paes.

Unsurprisingly, Australia began to look more and more comfortable and Jackson Irvine made it 3-0 after just 34 minutes, firing in from a rebound from a save.

Indonesia started the second half with impressive energy and pinned Australia in for the opening 10 minutes, forcing a good save from Mat Ryan. But when Lewis Miller made it 4-0 after 61 minutes, the game was over as a contest.

The visitors did get a consolation goal with 12 minutes to go, when Oxford United forward Ole Romenij beat Ryan from close range, but Irvine restored Australia’s four-goal lead in the 90th minute to cap off a fine day for the Socceroos.

Next up for Australia is a trip to China, who are bottom of the group but only four points behind them.

Five goals.
Three points.
One important win. #Socceroos #IDN pic.twitter.com/l9uXR2FAmD

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 20, 2025

Data debrief: Australia cruise to three points

Australia extended their unbeaten run against Indonesia to nine matches, having won seven and drawn two of them.

Their shot conversion rate of 56% is their third-best rate in a match since Opta began collecting such data in 2015.

Australia have only scored more goals against the Solomon Islands (seven in 2005 and six in 2004) in matches at the Allianz Stadium than the five they recorded in this match.

The result was also Indonesia’s third defeat in a row, having previously been beaten by Vietnam and the Philippines. It is their longest losing streak since the start of 2024.