Two-goal hero Alex Brosque said some half-time words from coach Holger Osieck and captain Lucas Neill was just what Australia needed to spark their second-half performance against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Two-goal hero Alex Brosque said some half-time words from coach Holger Osieck and captain Lucas Neill was just what Australia needed to spark their second-half performance against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The Socceroos twice went down in the first half, with Brosque equalising initially before his side's defence was again breached shortly before the break.
But the second half saw a different Australia outfit, which sparked to life with three second-half goals in as many minutes.
Brosque's strike partner Harry Kewell made it 2-2 on 73 minutes, before the former Sydney forward clinched his double and Brett Emerton made it four.
"The way the first half started, they put us on the back foot a little bit and got the goal," Brosque said.
"They got us just again before half-time, which took the wind out of us a little bit. But we came in at half-time and Holger and Lucas got the boys pumped again, and made us realise that we had to sort of step up our game."
"Things weren't going to plan, but we were able to change things a little bit. We did that, and in the end we won it quite comfortably.
"In the second half, we seemed to gel a bit better."
Brosque agreed his performance was probably his best in an Australia shirt, and revealed the confidence of manager Holger Osieck had made all the difference.
The 28-year-old acknowledged the absence of Europe-based stars Tim Cahill and Brett Holman, but said he was concentrating on contributing when given the chance.
"He mentioned it to me when I first came into camp [in December 2010] - he told me that he liked me as a player. As a player, it's nice to hear those things, nice to have that faith shown in you from a manager," the Shimizu S-Pulse striker said.
"At the end of the day, it is about repaying that faith and showing him why he does pick you, and I guess games like tonight make you feel a lot better about being in the squad."