Qantas Joeys get off to a great start
The Qantas Joeys got their bid to qualify for the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup off to a terrific start, after winning its opening game of the AFC U16 Championship 3-1 against Saudi Arabia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Qantas Joeys got their bid to qualify for the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup off to a terrific start, after winning its opening game of the AFC U16 Championship 3-1 against Saudi Arabia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
A double by Stephen Domenici and one from Brendan Hamill had Australia in control, before Saudi Arabia grabbed a late consolation goal.
"Its important to get off to a good start in any tournament, especially against good opposition,” said coach Martyn Crook. “(It-s) a great result."
"A win against China will guarantee a quarter final appearance and a step closer to the 2009 World Cup. So we will now focus on the recovery and this match in two days time," he added.
After fairly even start to the match, Domenici suddenly found himself with the opportunity to put his side in front after 15 minutes and he didn-t let his teammates down. The striker found himself in behind the defence from an Eli Babalj flick on and he finished neatly past the advancing Saudi keeper.
Babalj was inches from making it 2-0 eight minutes later, when Domenici and Nikola Stanojevic combined well to set the West Australian up on the edge of the box, but his shot hit the post and bounced away.
But it was 2-0 on the half hour, when Domenici went on a solo run from near half way, beating two defenders and racing into the box and slotting home at the near post.
It was 3-0 soon after the break, when a free kick by Jared Lum was flicked on by Trent Sainsbury; Hamill chesting the ball to his advantage and volleying home from just inside the box.
Stanojevic was denied a fourth goal for Australia with 15 minutes to go, when he shot wqs saved brilliantly by the Saudi keeper and with six minutes remaining Al Ghamdi went on a solo run, before unleashing a rocket from outside the penalty box that gave Robert Kolak little chance.
In the other group game played earlier, China secured all three points with a late winner against Turkmenistan; the final result being 2-1.
Australia will play China on Tuesday, with the winner guaranteed a place in the quarter finals.
Match Details
Qantas Joeys 3 (Stephen Domenici 15-/30-, Brendan Hamill 49-) Saudi Arabia 1 (Al Ghamdi 84-)
Qantas Joeys line-up: Robert Kolak (gk); Chahine Noujaim, Petar Franjic, Brendan Hamill, Trent Sainsbury (Nathan Farrell 61-), Kamal Ibrahim, Jared Lum, Chris Bush, Nikola Stanojevic, Stephen Domenici (Cameron Edwards 70-), Eli Babalj (Danai Gapare 70-)
Cautions: Farrell (62-)
Crowd: 3500