The Subway Young Socceroos overcame a determined Afghanistan outfit to claim a 2-0 win in their opening Group D AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ Qualifier of in Abha, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning AEST.
Adelaide United’s Luka Jovanovic and Tiago Quintal of Sydney FC were instrumental off the bench, with the former scoring a brace, while the latter assisted the first goal and won the penalty for the second late on.
The Aussies dominated possession in the first half at the Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium but with Afghanistan content to sit in a low block and look to counter-attack, chances were limited.
Brisbane Roar’s Thomas Waddingham was the most threatening in the first half of action but could not find the breakthrough.
The start of the second half largely mirrored the preceding 45 minutes, however Afghanistan’s resoluteness would come unstuck in the 84th minute.
Goalkeeper Faisal Saeed ventured off his line with Quintal showing exquisite footwork, composure and persistence to evade his challenge and pick out Jovanovic. The 19-year-old still had plenty of work to do, firing a clinical first-time strike into the top corner and high enough above two Afghan defenders.
The points were sealed in stoppage time when Quintal’s cutback was handled in the box by Ahmad Shekib Mehri, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Jovanic confidently dispatched his effort low and hard to the ‘keeper’s right to ensure Trevor Morgan’s men began its campaign in winning fashion.
The Aussies now face Macau on Wednesday night at 11:00pm AEST.
Match Details
Afghanistan U20: 0
Australia U20: 2 (Jovanovic 84’, 90+3′ (P))
AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ Qualifiers
Date: Monday, 23 September 2024
Venue: Prince Sultan Sports City Complex, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Starting XI: 1.Anthony PAVLESIC (GK), 2.Kayne RAZMOVSKI (20.Jesse CAMERON 80’), 3.Liam BONETIG, 4.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 5.Zane SCHREIBER (21.Fabian TALLADIRA 80’), 7.Jonny YULL, 8. Alexander BADOLATO (C), 10.Rhys YOULLEY, 11.Thomas WADDINGHAM (15.Tiago QUINTAL 60’), 17.Jake NAJDOVSKI (9.Luka JOVANOVIC 60’), 19.Miguel DI PIZIO (6.Frans DELI 60’)
Unused substitutes: 12.Alexander ROBINSON (GK), 13.Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 14.Oliver RANDAZZO, 16.Louis AGOSTI, 18.Daniel GRASKOSKI, 22.Arion SULEMANI, 23.Joshua INSERRA
Yellow Cards: 7.Jonny YULL (25’), 3.Liam BONETIG (72’)
Red Cards: N/A
Match Schedule
Subway Young Socceroos v Macau
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 4.00pm local / 11.00pm AEST
Palestine v Subway Young Socceroos
Friday, 27 September 2024
Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 4.00pm local / 11.00pm AEST
Subway Young Socceroos v Saudi Arabia
Sunday, 29 September 2024
Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 8.00pm local / 3.00am AEST (Monday, 30 September)
