The Subway Young Socceroos secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Macau in their second AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ Qualifier of Group D on Thursday morning AEST at Abha’s Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium.
Centre-back Panagiotis Kikianis scored a goal in each half to maintain the team’s 100% record after two matches and sit equal top with Saudi Arabia on six points.
The deadlock was broken in the ninth minute when Kikianis finished from close range via a set-piece routine. Jesse Cameron volleyed across Frans Deli’s free-kick which took a deflection and landed into the path of the defender to tap home.
Luka Jovanovic and Arion Sulemani had chances to add to the lead but could not convert their decent chances.
Kikianis increased the Aussies’ advantage five minutes into the second half with a long-range strike which proved too hot to handle for goalkeeper Lam Chak Fong.
Substitute Jake Najdovski saw his penalty saved in the 80th minute by Lam with a great diving save.
The Young Socceroos now turn their attention to Friday night’s (AEST) match against Palestine at the same venue.
Match Details
Australia U20: 2 (Kikianis 9′, 50′)
Macau U20: 0
AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ Qualifiers
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Venue: Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Starting XI: 6.Frans DELI (C) (19. Miguel DI PIZIO 68′), 9.Luka JOVANOVIC (11. Thomas WADDINGHAM 68′), 12.Alexander ROBINSON (GK), 13.Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 14. Oliver RANDAZZO, 15.Tiago QUINTAL (5.Zane SCHREIBER 68′), 16.Louis AGOSTI, 20.Jesse CAMERON (7.Jonny YULL 68′), 21.Fabian TALLADIRA, 22.Arion SULEMANI (17. Jake NAJDOVSKI 80′), 23.Joshua INSERRA
Unused substitutes: 1.Anthony PAVLESIC, 2.Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 3.Liam BONETIG, 4.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 8. Alexander BADOLATO, 10.Rhys YOULLEY, 18. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK)
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Match Schedule
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
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)
