The Subway Joeys kicked off their AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ Qualifiers at Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium in style overnight, running away 19-0 winners against Northern Mariana Islands in Mishref, Kuwait.
Anthony Didulica scored five goals, Max Anastasio and Quinn MacNicol bagged a hat-trick each, Amlani Tatu, Alexander Garbowski and Max Naylor secured braces, while Nickolas Alfaro and Jay Maltz both scored too.
Head Coach Brad Maloney set up the Australia U17 Men's team in a 4-3-3 formation with midfielder MacNicol captaining the side.
Australia's superiority was clear to see from the very start of the Group G clash, with Tatu opening the scoring in the fourth minute, Garbowski doubling the lead in the 11th, before Tatu completed a brace 17 minutes in.
Skipper MacNicol bagged himself a quickfire brace, before Didulica added a couple of his own, leaving Australia 7-0 up before the 30-minute mark.
Further goals from Garbowski, Anastasio, Alfaro and another double from Didulica completed the first half scoring, with the Joeys heading into the interval 12 goals to the good.
The second half was to begin in similar fashion, with Anastasio scoring his second four minutes in, before Didulica bagged his fifth just before the hour mark.
That would be Didulica's work complete for the night, as Maloney then made a hat-trick of substitutions in the 59th minute, bringing on Isiah Boston, Max Naylor and Logan Sambrook.
Maltz made it 15-0 in the 60th minute, before Naylor got his name on the scoresheet in minute 69 and MacNicol netted his third in the 70th.
Maloney continued to freshen up his side throughout the second 45, with Rhys Williams and Christian Pullella also enjoying playing time.
Anastasio completed a hat-trick of his own in the 83rd minute, then Naylor got his second in the 84th to conclude a good night's work for Australia's U17s.
Unsurprisingly, the Subway Joeys sit top of Group G after the resounding victory, with Indonesia also on three points after their 1-0 win over hosts Kuwait.
Next up, the Joeys face Kuwait on Friday 25 October (8.30pm, local / 4.30am AEDT, Saturday 26 October) before tackling Indonesia on Sunday 27 October 2024 (5.30pm, local / 1.30am AEDT, Monday, 28 October).
All matches will be played at Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium, Mishref.
Match Details
Australia U17: 19 (Tatu 4', 17', Garbowski 11', 31', MacNicol 18', 24', 70', Didulica 25', 26', 38, 45+1', 58', Anastasio 35', 49', 83', Alfaro 37', Maltz 60', Naylor 69', 84')
Northern Mariana Islands U17: 0
AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ Qualifiers
Date: Wednesday 23 October 2024
Venue: Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium, Mishref
Starting XI: 1. Jai Ajanovic, 4. Alexander Garbowski, 7. Nickolas Alfaro (2. Isiah Boston 59'), 8. Quinn MacNicol (C), 9. Anthony Didulica (22. Max Naylor 59'), 10. Amlani Tatu (11. Rhys Williams 64'), 13. Besian Kutleshi (5. Christian Pullella 73'), 14. Charlie Parkin, 16. Miles Milliner (23. Logan Sambrook 59'), 19. Jay Maltz, 20. Max Anastasio
Unused substitutes: 3. Zayd Kassaby, 6. Alex Bolton, 12. Jonty Benfield (GK), 15. Zane Stevenson, 17. Jordan Graoroski, 18. Noah Ellul (GK), 21. Henrique Oliveira
Next Matches
Kuwait v Subway Joeys
Friday, 25 October 2024
Kick-off: 8.30pm (local) / 4.30am AEDT (Saturday, 26 October)
Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium, Mishref
Subway Joeys v Indonesia
Sunday, 27 October 2024
Kick-off: 5.30pm (local) / 1.30am AEDT (Monday, 28 October)
Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium, Mishref