Socceroos shocked by 2-0 loss to Jordan

Two second-half goals have been enough for world No.99 side Jordan to defeat Asian champions Australia in a World Cup qualifier in Amman.

Australia's Aaron Mooy (L) and Jordan's Hasan Abdel Fattah

A spirited Jordan side have stunned Australia 2-0 to go top of their World Cup qualifying group. (AAP)

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou says a painful 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Jordan doesn't call for wholesale change but does show his players need more desire.

Hasan Abdel-Fattah's 47th-minute penalty stunned the Socceroos before Hamza Al-Dardour sealed a famous victory for Jordan with six minutes remaining.

It was a sucker punch Mark Milligan called "a toe-bash from inside their half" that wrecked the Socceroos' night.

Matthew Spiranovic failed to deal with a long ball, felling Al-Dardour for the penalty that Abdel-Fattah would lash home.

From that moment, Jordan had control of the tie, stretching the Socceroos and the clock at every opportunity.

The defeat was the second in as many visits to the Jordanian capital, after the Socceroos lost 2-1 in their previous campaign, and put Jordan on top of their qualifying group.

In front of a boisterous crowd, which began chanting hours before kickoff and stopped only for the national anthem, Jordan took it right up to the Asian champions.

Paul Put's team looked hungrier than the Socceroos and celebrated wildly after both goals and on the final whistle.

"It means a lot to them - you saw it," Postecoglou said.

"It always does and you kind of hope it means the same to us ... we're playing for sheep stations.

"World Cup spots are up for grabs. That (should be) enough motivation for any side, any country."

Chasing the game, Postecoglou threw on forwards Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric - replacing two midfielders and defender Bailey Wright - without finding a goal.

With the Socceroos committed to an equaliser, it was another ball over the top that finished them off, ending up with Al-Dardour who finished off a one-on-one chance.

The result disappointed Postecoglou but he said there was no crisis.

"We're not the finished product, we haven't said we are and we've got a lot of improvement in us."

"We're not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater, though - it's one loss.

"We firmly believe we're on the right track and we've got some home games to come. The task is still in our hands."

Milligan backed that view, saying the team would continue on the same path.

"We have come a long way in the last 12 months, we didn't want this result and it feels like a bit of step back," he said.

"We won't change anything and will just continue on the same path."

While the result is undoubtedly a setback to their qualifying hopes, Australia retain control of their World Cup destiny.

The Socceroos have four matches remaining - including three at home - in the first group stage, and four victories would secure passage to the next phase.


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Source: AAP


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