- Socceroos fans were angry with Channel 10
- Streaming problems affected World Cup qualifying
- Australia will take on Bangladesh in Melbourne
Socceroos fans have hit out at Channel 10 after the broadcaster admitted ‘issues’ prevented viewers from watching the Australia-Bangladesh match online.
Kicking off their World Cup qualifying campaign in Melbourne, the Socceroos got off to a fast start after Leicester City defender Harry Souttar found the net just four minutes in from a Craig Goodwin throw.
But some supporters missed the target after experiencing problems with the broadcaster’s online stream of the match.
“Can’t watch Socceroos – error code 5000,” a fan posted on Paramount’s Twitter account.
Socceroos fans were unable to stream the Aussies’ match against Bangladesh on Thursday
The broadcaster responded: ‘We are aware of a current issue affecting our stream in web browsers. We’re looking into it, but in the meantime we recommend you tune in from another device. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Another fan said: ‘What is the error code 5000? Because there’s no mention of it on the troubleshooting page.’
In Graham Arnold’s record-breaking 59th ‘A international’ as head coach, Australia made easy work of the world number 183 in front of 20,876 fans at AAMI Park to run out a 7-0 winner.
Harry Souttar opened the scoring in just the fourth minute and Brandon Borrello added a second in the twentieth.
Mitch Duke earned a quick-fire brace in the 37th and 40th minutes, while Melbourne City forward Maclaren came off the bench to score in the 48th, 70th and 84th minutes.
Australia next travels to Kuwait to play Palestine on Tuesday evening.
With Martin Boyle (knee) sidelined, Arnold opted to start Craig Goodwin and Borrello on the wings, with Duke up top.
Australia had 29 shots to Bangladesh’s and earned their first goal after Craig Goodwin was brought down.
Australia ran out a 7-0 winner to get their World Cup qualification off to a perfect start
Mitch Duke scored a trademark header for the Socceroos at AAMI Park on Thursday
Jamie Maclaren also found the net for the usually goal-shy Socceroos
Goodwin took the free kick and curled a tantalizing left-footed ball towards Souttar.
The 198cm defender was completely unconcerned as he rose highest to head into the top corner to score his ninth international goal.
For Australia’s second, the brilliant Connor Metcalfe found Lewis Miller and charged forward to meet the smart wing fullback.
Metcalfe rode a challenge and then brilliantly gave it to Borrello to tap home.
Australia broke Bangladesh’s defense for the third time when Metcalfe flicked the ball towards Duke, who headed home a header.
Three minutes later, Borrello fired a fierce attack onto the post, but Duke buried the rebound.
The 4–0 half-time lead was the Socceroos’ highest-scoring first half since they put five goals past Taiwan in December 2012.
Goodwin, Jackson Irvine and Duke made way for Aziz Behich, Massimo Luongo and Maclaren at half-time, while Jordan Bos was pushed to the flank.
A few minutes later, Bos defeated Maclaren to take fifth place in Australia.
Maclaren appeared to be offside, but there was no VAR to rule this out.
Australia added a sixth when Luongo was denied, but Maclaren coolly buried the follow-up.
Graham Arnold was treated to numerous goals from his side in Melbourne
Striker Kusini Yengi made his debut for Australia in the 72nd minute.
Maclaren completed his second international hat-trick when he turned home Miller’s excellent cross.
Luongo had a poor penalty saved in the 90th minute after Aiden O’Neill was brought down, leaving the Socceroos to settle for seven goals.
The match was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Socceroos, the first to qualify for a World Cup.
It was also 18 years ago that Australia defeated Uruguay on penalties to reach the 2006 tournament.