Perhaps the best two players ever produced by Australia have been sent off in the country's opening two games at the World Cup.
Harry Kewell, playing his first match at any level since April, was dismissed after 24 minutes of Australia's 1-1 draw with Ghana on Saturday, while Tim Cahill watched from the stands because of his red card in the opening 4-0 loss to Germany.
Kewell, the Galatasaray forward, was on Australia's goal line as a shot thundered in from Jonathan Asamoah. It hit him high on the arm and referee Roberto Rosetti didn't hesitate to produce the red.
The decision caused a sense of injustice in the Australian squad, but the Socceroos hung on for a result which keeps its slim hopes of progressing alive.
Kewell argued with Rosetti and asked him to look at a replay on a big screen at the stadium, claiming the intervention of his arm was accidental.
``I think he did have a look at the screen but he is the referee and you can't tell him what to do,'' Kewell said. ``He is the judge, jury and executioner. I am devastated, the guy has killed my World Cup.''
Kewell said he had no chance of avoiding the blow on the arm.
``OK, maybe it has hit my arm but it was not deliberate,'' Kewell said. ``Unless I detach my arm and put it somewhere else there is no way I can move my arm. I didn't deliberately go for the hand, I didn't try to handball it. I tried to use my chest, playing by the rules but the ref saw it another way and was probably the only one who did.''
Kewell was sent to the dressing rooms where he watched the rest of the game on television, with the company of a security guard.
``I wasn't allowed to leave,'' Kewell said. ``I don't know what he was expecting me to do.''
Kewell watched a gritty Australian display.
``We were unlucky not to win,'' he said. ``I thought we had the more clear chances and it didn't fall for us. It's a shame.''
Kewell, 31, will receive a minimum one-match suspension, meaning he may have played in his final World Cup match. Australia, which plays Serbia in its last group game, needs to win and have the result of the Ghana vs. Germany game go its way to advance.
The team will also be without central defender Craig Moore, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament and will retire after the tournament, but should have Everton midfielder Cahill available for the Serbia match.
Australia captain Lucas Neill said the team had extra motivation to reach the second round to give Kewell and Moore another shot in the World Cup.
``I can't ask for anything more from tonight,'' Neill added. ``It's the definition of Australian. To go out there with 10 men for a long period of the game and fight the way we fought is amazing.
``If you look at the big picture we created as many chances as Ghana.''
