The Socceroos have retained the Soccer Ashes and extended their unbeaten run over the All Whites to nine games with a 3-1 victory at Go Media Stadium in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Head coach Darren Bazeley made two changes to the starting XI that dominated the first leg but were punished late on with an 87th-minute winner for Australia.

Finn Surman, in good form for club side Portland Timbers, came in to replace Michael Boxall, while Ben Old was given a chance in place of Callum McCowatt.

The All Whites started brightly, enjoying the better of the early attacking play, with Eli Just denied in the opening 10 minutes by a crucial block from Alessandro Circati.

As the half progressed, the Socceroos began to take control, with Max Crocombe forced into a brilliant save to claw away a Kye Rowles header that looked destined to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark.

Moments later, however, the breakthrough came.

Mo Toure, who impressed off the bench in the first game, was put through on goal by Connor Metcalfe and finished neatly to give Australia a 2-0 aggregate lead in the 35th minute.

Five minutes later, it looked like the All Whites had found an equaliser.

Excellent play from Ben Old released Sarpreet Singh, whose cross deflected off a Socceroos defender and onto the crossbar. The rebound fell to Tim Payne with what looked a certain goal, but Paul Izzo produced a stunning save to preserve Australia’s lead, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Australia struck again.

Nestory Irankunda broke on the counterattack and capped off a superb solo run, dribbling through the All Whites’ defence before finishing from close range.

But on 57 minutes, the All Whites pulled one back.

Francis De Vries played a pinpoint through ball to Chris Wood, who slotted past the keeper for his 45th international goal. It also ended a 15-year scoring drought for New Zealand against the Socceroos.

Australia responded almost immediately. Just three minutes later, Toure grabbed his second of the match to restore the two-goal cushion and put the Soccer Ashes out of reach for Aotearoa.

With 10 minutes remaining, 17-year-old Luke Brooke-Smith was introduced, becoming the youngest All White since the 1980s, cheered on by more than 18,000 home fans.

It was a tough defeat for the All Whites, but across the two legs there were plenty of positives to build on.

Article added: Tuesday 9 September 2025