The Socceroos took another significant step towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a solid 2-0 victory over China on Wednesday night.
City skipper Aziz Behich again played a key role, completing the full 90 minutes in an impressive performance at left back. The experienced defender was on the pitch for every minute of the March window, contributing to a perfect two-from-two record for Australia.
While Behich shone on the field, City teammates Kai Trewin and Marco Tilio continued to gain valuable experience in the Socceroos setup.
Trewin was an unused substitute for the second match running and will now wait for the next international window for a potential debut, while Tilio wasn’t named in the matchday squad but further developed in the national team environment.
On the pitch, Melbourne-born Jackson Irvine continued his fine form, finding the back of the net in the 16th minute to give the Socceroos an early lead. The midfielder, who scored a brace in the previous match against Indonesia, made it three goals in two games with a clinical finish.
Australia’s advantage was soon doubled, with a goalkeeping error gifting the Socceroos a second before the half-hour mark.
Despite a record crowd in China, the visiting Socceroos remained composed, seeing out the match to claim a comfortable 2-0 win and maintain momentum in their qualification campaign.
Behich, Trewin, and Tilio will return to Melbourne on Wednesday as focus shifts back to club duties. All three players will rejoin City in preparation for Saturday’s highly anticipated clash against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
With a successful international window under their belts, City’s Socceroos trio will be eager to carry their momentum into the back end of the domestic season.
