Full match summary – courtesy of the Australian Soccer Association
Australia vs Solomon Islands – Honiara 9/10/2004
3′ Emerton gets down the flank, cross blocked out for the first corner of the game. Ball cleared at near post
The crowd is going absolutely ballistic everytime the Solomons touch the ball in these early stages.
5′ Goal to Skoko – after moving the ball around, Skoko meets a cross from Emerton, who is looking dangerous, to slam home from edge of box.
7′ Menapi tries a shot from 20 yards and Schwarzer saves easily.
10′ Solomons wins its first corner, but comes to nothing.
18′ Goal to 22 Ante Molicic
28′ Goal to Skoko – Milicic great cutback for Skoko, who scores from close range. Well worked goal with Emerton again involved in the lead up with Milicic.
Solomons struggling in the final third as Australia’s defensive unit holds tight.
31′ Emerton again, cross to Elrich who heads back across goal to Skoko, but with back to goal the Solomons are able to clear.
32′ Solomons go on the attack immediately, but cross to cleared by Australia.
33′ Menapi tries a shot from 25 yards, but shot goes wide.
35′ Emerton brings down Alick Maemae and crowd focal for a yellow card. From free kick, the ball goes through Schwarzer’s hands and almost goes into the goal but Neill clears off the line.
36′ Corner to Solomons and Schwarzer again fumbles the cross and luckily again he has the defenders that are able to clear.
40′ Grella YC for challenge on Maemae
41′ Batrum Suri puts free kick from just outside the penalty area over the bar
42′ Jack Samani splits the Aussie defence and Menapi is just an inch away from getting a touch that would have pulled a goal back for the home side.
43′ Goal to Emerton – Elrich gets down the left and crosses to back post where he finds Emerton, who makes no mistake for a deserved goal.
2.08pm – The second half has kicked off.
Half time – Australia 4-0
51′ Skoko hurt again and forced to the sideline for treatment.
60′ Goal to Batrum Suri – ball goes down the flank and crossed to about the penalty spot and Suri hits it home.
60′ Australian substitutions – Brett Emerton and Vince Grella off – Luke Wilkshire (debut) and Mile Sterjovski on
Australia really feeling the effects of the heat as the Solomons put the Aussie defence under some pressure.
70′ Colosimo tries his luck from 25 yards and goes just wide.
71′ Neill and Schwarzer misunderstanding at the back, but Suri shoots across face of goal – inches away.
71′ Vidmar YC, although not quite sure what for.
71′ Australian substitution – Neill off – McKain (debut) on
79′ Goal to Elrich – long through ball to Elrich and he makes no mistake with his one-on-one opportunity.
81′ Elrich goes close again but keeper cuts it out.
81′ quick counter and Suri turns Popovic inside out and shoots at goal but is denied by a fine save from Schwarzer.
Australia just trying to keep possession with the game out of reach for the Solomons with a little under five minutes to go.
Full time – Australia 5-1
The second leg of the two-match tie will be played in Sydney on Tuesday, with the overall winner progressing to the Confederations Cup finals in Germany next year.