FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Perth star Adam Taggart ends five-year drought as Socceroos romp past Palestine

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Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Perth star Adam Taggart ends five-year drought as Socceroos romp past Palestine Ben SmithThe West Australian June 11, 2024 10:06PM Comments TopicsSoccer The Socceroos have celebrated their long-awaited return to Perth with a 5-0 win over Palestine, as Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart ended a five-year international goal drought in front of his home crowd. On a night where fellow Perth products Alessandro Circati and Cameron Burgess also started for the Socceroos, Taggart nabbed his first goal for the national team since 2019, before setting up another for Martin Boyle in the second-half. Taggart’s first-half strike came either side of a first-half brace to Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi which gave Australia a 3-0 lead at the break against a spirited Palestine, who were roared on by a vociferous swell of support. 18,261 fans piled into HBF Park for Perth’s first Socceroos game since 2016, and were rewarded with goals galore, including a first international strike for Bayern Munich-bound teen sensation Nestory Irankunda, courtesy of a late penalty. TheNightly Get in front of tomorrow’s news for FREE Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.READ NOWCamera IconAdam Taggart of Australia celebrates a goal. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images If anything could have put a damper on Socceroos coach Graham Arnold’s mood, it would have been news South Korea had beaten China 1-0, foiling Australia’s hopes of jumping them in the FIFA rankings and securing a slightly higher seeding for the next qualification phase. However, with the Socceroos’ passage to the next round already secured, the result would have been pleasing to Arnold, who made eight changes from the side who beat Bangladesh on Thursday. Not unsurprisingly in a game which featured, it was the Socceroos frontmen who caught the eye most, with Taggart, Yengi and Boyle impressing while also all finding the net. It took just four minutes for Yengi to open the scoring when Aziz Behich’s race to a ball in the box was impeded by Yaser Hamed, bringing the full-back down and prompting an early penalty; Palestine’s chagrin was on show after the decision and was further evident after Yengi dispatched the spot-kick. Despite the deficit, neither Palestine’s fans nor players were undeterred, the visitors showing some slick interplay going forward and keeping Burgess and Circati alert on the counter-attack.Camera IconAziz Behich of Australia is tackled by Yaser Hamed and then awarded a penalty. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images Every touch towards the Socceroos goal was met with a unified wave of vocal support and accompanied by steady rhythm of drumming from the crowd. It was Circati who denied Palestine their best chance of the first-half, reacting quickly to blanket the space Mohammed Rashid was afforded and deflected his shot away from danger. Taggart’s goal in front of his home crowd brought the loudest cheer though, the striker flicking a loose ball over to Martin Boyle and the winger unselfishly cutting back for the Glory striker to emphatically fire home his seventh international goal. Yengi made it 3-0 just before half-time when Jackson Irvine’s cutting pass found Boyle and despite a hint of offside the flag stayed down, allowing him to pick out the striker, who danced around a challenge before converting.Camera IconAdam Taggart leaves the field with a leg injury. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images The duo were involved again after the break, with the impressive Yengi sliding an inch-perfect ball through for Taggart to square and Boyle to roll into an open net. Taggart’s night ended abruptly after copping a stray boot while attempting to smash the ball into the net from close-range, replaced by Apostolos Stamatelopoulos on debut. Circati and Burgess were relatively untroubled for most of the game, but the latter again proved spoiler as Palestine sought a consolation goal, heading away Mustafa Zeidan’s goal-bound shot. With three minutes to go, a handball by Hamed in the box gave the Socceroos a spot-kick, and with his family watching on, Irankunda stepped up to fire home the penalty and celebrated with a somersault to put a bow on proceedings.Camera IconPERTH, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 11: Palestine fans show their support during the Second Round FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Palestine at HBF Park on June 11, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images) Credit: Will Russell/Getty Images Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email Us Copy the Link Register and have your say. Register to comment Already have an account? Log in Register Now!The Chevron City to Surf for Activ is celebrating 50 years! Keep the tradition or start a new one. 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