MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia kicked off Asia’s second round of World Cup qualifying with a 7-0 demolition of Bangladesh on Thursday as Graham Arnold celebrated a record 59th ‘A’ international as Socceroos coach.
Jamie Maclaren came off the bench to score a second half hat-trick and Mitchell Duke scored a brace late in the first half as world number 27 Australia trampled all over the 183rd-ranked south Asians at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
In front of a crowd of 20,876, the hosts were on the board in the fourth minute courtesy of a Harry Souttar header from a pinpoint Craig Goodwin free kick from just outside the area.
Brandon Borrello doubled the lead in the 20th minute when he latched onto a neat Connor Metcalfe cross and slid a low shot by goalkeeper Mitul Marma.
Duke then scored twice in four minutes, nodding in a fine header from another Metcalfe assist before firing in a rebound off the post when Borrello sent a rocket thudding into the woodwork.
Maclaren did all the damage in the second half, firing in a Jordan Bos cross shortly after the restart before pouncing again in the 70th minute when a Massimo Luongo shot pinged off the keeper.
Lewis Miller then set up Maclaren’s hat-trick goal in the 84th minute with another neat cross.
Socceroos coach Arnold, in his second stint in charge, eclipsed the Australian coaching record held with friend and former Socceroos team mate Frank Farina.
Australia are bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the seventh time, and sixth time in succession, having reached the round of 16 at last year’s tournament in Qatar.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
