‘Pleased with the crowd, disappointed with the score’: Police laud Fed Square fans

Melburnians cried early on Saturday as thousands descended on the CBD in the middle of the night to watch Australia’s heartbreaking World Cup loss to Egypt.

Federation Square was declared full hours before the match as dozens of police and security guards closely watched rowdy fans and quickly doused a handful of flares that were set alight.

Pubs and bars were also busy after Premier Jacinta Allan allowed licensed venues to operate while Australia played, despite most normally being forced to close before the 4am kick-off on Saturday.

Queues outside Fed Square started around 11pm on Friday, but supporters left quickly when Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty just before 7am on Saturday.

Some Socceroos fans shed tears while a small contingent of Egyptian fans celebrated among the dejected green-and-gold throng.

Earlier, a few young men were taken away by police after flares were set off during the match.

But authorities did not appear to have the same problems with crowd behaviour as they did during the last late-night World Cup fixture at the venue on June 20, when some fans rushed and breached a barrier.

Victoria Police said 7500 fans attended live site this time, while another 6000 watched at AAMI Park.

“Officers were generally pleased with the behaviour of crowds during the game, despite being disappointed with the score during the penalty shootout,” a spokesperson said.

“Eleven flares and one smoke emitter were activated during the game, including six flares which were lit and thrown after the Socceroos scored their first goal.”

Three men and a teenager were arrested for possessing flares, police said. One man was also arrested for possessing a distress signal and discharging a missile.

They were all released and the men are expected to be charged on summons.

Two people were issued with penalty notices after security guards found weapons on them at the entrance to AAMI Park. Two people were also directed to leave the venue after entering the pitch.

Osama Shahin, meanwhile, was delighted with the result as he celebrated while draped in an Egyptian flag at Fed Square.

“When you grow up in Egypt, soccer is everything,” said Shahin, who moved to Australia aged 10. “To win our first knockout stage match is pretty big.”

Socceroos supporters had been jubilant just after 5am when Australia equalised through an own goal, unleashing a sea of flailing limbs as the crowd heaved between Fed Square’s temporary steel barricades.

Steve Gannell of Tacoma was among the mob, and one of many who did not sleep on Friday night.

He picked up his friends in Berwick and went straight into the city in time for Fed Square’s gates to open around 1.30am.

“I thought it was gonna be really cold tonight, so why not [wear] a onesie?” he said, explaining his green-and-gold outfit.

Jon Croft, from Hillside, also lined up from 11pm to get in. “It’s the atmosphere,” he said when asked why he came.

Andre Tran was one of the few dejected Socceroos supporters who hung around for a little while after the end of the match and Australia’s campaign.

“As devastated as I am,” he said, “I’m so glad that at a place like Fed Square we could all experience an opportunity like this.”

The Socceroos’ loss, however, means Tran may have to wait another four years for a similar experience.

Workers began taking packing up the Fed Square live site as soon as dawn broke on Saturday.