In a well-fought last-16 encounter in Doha, the Australian national football team, the Socceroos, demonstrated their resilience and tactical prowess to secure a 4-0 victory over Indonesia. Graham Arnold's side, eyeing their second Asian Cup title, showcased a solid performance rather than a spectacular one, advancing to the quarterfinals with confidence.

The first half saw the Socceroos take control with two goals. A stroke of misfortune for Indonesia occurred in the 12th minute when a deflected own goal put Australia in the lead. Just before halftime, Martin Boyle's diving header off a Gethin Jones cross doubled the advantage, leaving Indonesia with an uphill battle.

As the match progressed, Australia continued to dominate. Craig Goodwin increased the lead to 3-0 with a well-taken volley off a rebound in the 89th minute, and Harry Souttar sealed the comprehensive victory with a stoppage-time header, making it 4-0. While the scoreline may have flattered Australia, it marked their third clean sheet in four matches, having conceded only once in the tournament.

Coach Graham Arnold acknowledged the physical challenge posed by Indonesia, stating, "Indonesia made it tough for us, physically they were very big and strong. We told the boys to be ready for a fight and a physical battle." He emphasized the importance of clean sheets in tournament football, expressing his satisfaction with Australia's defensive resilience.

Indonesia, making their first appearance in the knockout rounds and ranked 121 places below their opponents, fought bravely but struggled to break through the Socceroos' defense. Coach Shin Tae-yong believed the 4-0 scoreline was harsh on his side, mentioning the unfortunate deflected first goal as a turning point.

With this convincing victory, Australia awaits the winner of the clash between Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia and Jurgen Klinsmann's South Korea in the quarterfinals. The Socceroos will aim to build on their solid defensive record as they continue their quest for Asian Cup glory.

The tournament excitement continues with Asian Cup debutants Tajikistan set to face the UAE in another last-16 match later on Sunday.