Isuzu UTE A-League stars Paul Okon-Engstler, Kai Trewin and Patrick Beach all earned their first CommBank Socceroos caps as starters in Australia’s 1-0 international friendly defeat to Venezuela in the United States on Saturday afternoon (AEDT).
Melbourne City goalkeeper Beach and defender Trewin were joined by Sydney FC midfielder Okon-Engstler – son of Socceroos legend Paul Okon – in head coach Tony Popovic’s starting line-up for the friendly bout in Houston. Trewin slotted in on the left side of a back three while Okon-Engstler occupied one of two central midfield roles.
The debutants were three of four Isuzu UTE A-League starters on the night for Australia, joined by Adelaide United legend Craig Goodwin, a winger by trade deployed as a left-sided wingback on his return to the international fold.
Goodwin had surgery to address a foot injury in June, which ruled him out of Australia’s two 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifying fixtures against Japan and Saudi Arabia – a camp in which the Socceroos secured their spot at next year’s major tournament.
Goodwin played 45 minutes against Venezuela and was replaced at half-time by Callum Elder.
The Socceroos went into half-time one goal down but it could have been more if not for a sensational save from Beach on debut for Australia.
The reflex stop was lauded by A-Leagues great Bruce Djite on the Network 10 half-time show.
‘Unbelievable,” Djite said. “You can’t understate how good this save is. It is unbelievable. He hasn’t parried it back into traffic; he’s tipped it around the post. He hasn’t had too much to do but when he has had something to do, he’s come up big.”
Jesus Ramirez’s first-half goal was enough for Venezuela to secure a win in Houston over the Socceroos, as the full-time whistle confirmed a 1-0 defeat for Australia.
Sydney FC forward Al Hassan Toure came off the bench to become the fourth A-Leagues debutant for Australia in the Venezuela clash.
