Frantic friendly brings concern for Socceroos star
Jackson Irvine’s club FC St. Pauli could be without the gun midfielder for several weeks after he was stretchered off during the Socceroosfriendly against Mexico.
Graham Arnold’s side may look back at the game as a missed opportunity, after squandering a 2-0 lead with Mexico fighting back to seal a 2-2 draw.
Irvine was stretchered off late in the game after his knee awkwardly rolled while he chased after Roberto Alvarado.
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Post-game, Arnold suggested there may be a lay-off for the midfielder.
“He’s rolled his ankle, he was in a lot of pain,” he told Paramount+.
“I asked him if it was good, he said ‘no’, it’s one of those things unfortunately.”
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, X-rays after the game revealed he had been cleared of structural damage.
Played on artificial turf at AT&T Stadium – home of the Dallas Cowboys – the Socceroos were ahead in the 16th minute when Harry Souttar headed home a goal.
Australia went into half-time with the 1-0 lead and it was extended in the 61st minute when Martin Boyle slotted a penalty.
However, Mexico’s Raul Jimenez kept his side in the game when he converted a penalty in the 69th minute.
Poor concentration at the back then allowed Mexico to hit the equaliser minutes before half-time with Caesar Huerta producing a brilliant halfv olley.
At full-time, Arnold wasn’t too disappointed with the result with lessons learnt.
“Look I think we played against a very good side here and obviously a couple of mistakes cost us some goals but at the end of the day the boys did exceptionally well,” he said.
“Obviously we’ve got things to improve on and that’s (why) you play these types of games, you learn your lessons.”
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