Despite all the arguments and the questions on the wisdom of an exhausting tour of Australia at the end of a long and hard domestic season. England duly arrived in Sydney to play this match and fulfill their obligations. Just as England found eight years earlier the 'Socceroos', as Australia were affectionately known, produced a high level of skill and effort to frustrate the 'Poms'. In fact England had to be thankful that Chris Woods was in fine form in goal.

Early on England were on top and they created several good chances, Mark Wright, Gary Lineker and David Platt all went close in the space of three minutes but the best chance probably fell to Nigel Clough. Alas, his shot from 12 yards was pulled wide. Despite England's overall dominance the Aussies refused to capitulate to the pressure and, indeed, they were quite dangerous in the breakaways. A mistake by David Batty left Arnold with a clear opening and only a tremendous save by Woods prevented a goal. Almost immediately the goalkeeper produced an even better save to foil Gray's goalbound header.

On 40 minutes, though, England took the lead. A Stuart Pearce free-kick was drilled into the area and in a scramble to clear the ball Gray put through his own goal. The goal was little fortuitous, but none the less deserved for England's first-half superiority.

The second half was not a particularly good one. England remained mostly in control, although Australia did produce good efforts from A.Vidmar and Gray as they both came close to wiping out England's lead. Another chance fell to Tapai and he looked a certain scorer as he strode clear of England's defence. But a brilliantly-timed tackle by Paul Parker saved the situation and England were never really threatened again.

Unfortunately England did not look like scoring in this half either and they created not one chance worthy of the name, especially after Lineker had to go off with a leg injury. But the win gave Graham Taylor his ninth unbeaten result since he took charge of the team, a record equalling Don Revie's start in 1974-75.
      

Source Notes