Young Socceroos - on to the Asian U19 Championships

[kevrenor]

Monday, 19 July 2010

Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen has today announced his squad for the upcoming Asean Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championship 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Young Socceroos

The Qantas Young Socceroos will play four matches between 24-30 July in the AFF tournament in preparation for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-19 Championships 2010 in Shandong, China, from 3-17 October.

The squad, featuring 14 Hyundai A-League players and one from the Australian Institute of Sport, depart for Vietnam this Thursday for the seven day competition before returning to their respective clubs for the start of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.

Also included in the squad is Hearts FC (Scotland) defender Dylan McGowan and 17-year-old Sunderland recruit Matthew Fletcher.

The Qantas Young Socceroos face Vietnam, Thailand and Korea Republic in the three-match group phase of the tournament with the two best placed teams going on to play for the AFF U-19 Youth Championship 2010 title.

Qantas Young Socceroos squad
AFF U-19 Preparatory Championships

24-30 July, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

NAME; CLUB
Mark Birighitti (G/K Adelaide United
Nikola Stanojevic; No current club
Brendan Hamill; Melbourne Heart
Sam Gallagher ; Central Coast Mariners
Kliment Taseski ; Melbourne Heart
Ben Kantarovski ; Newcastle Jets
Mathew Leckie; Adelaide United
Steven Lustica; Gold Coast United
Eli Babalj; Melbourne Heart
Christopher Bush; No current club
Ben Halloran; Gold Coast United
Dimitrios Petratos ; Sydney FC
Mustafa Amini; Central Coast Mariners
Matthew Fletcher ; Sunderland, UK
Kamal Ibrahim; Melbourne Heart
Daniel Bowles ; Brisbane Roar
Theo Markelis ; No current club
Matthew Acton (G/K) ; Brisbane Roar
Dylan McGowan; Hearts FC, Scotland
Ryan Edwards ; AIS

Team Officials

Head Coach: Jan Versleijen (FFA)
Assistant Coach: Alistair Edwards (FFA)
Team Manager: Taryn Rockall (FFA)
Goalkeeping Coach : Fernando Alves (QLD)
Video Analysis : Peter Cklamovski (NSW)
Doctor : Trevor Law (ACT)
Physiotherapist : Nino La Scala (VIC)
Recovery/Massage : Leigh Smith (SA)

Schedule :
24 July :
Match 1 Australia v Korea Rep.
Match 2 Vietnam v thailand
25 July : Rest Day
26 July :
Match 3 Thailand v Australia
Match 4 Korea Rep. v Vietnam
27 July Rest Day
28 July :
Match 5 Korea Rep. v Thailand
Match 6 Vietnam v Australia
29 July Rest Day
30 July :
Match 7 3rd Position v 4th Position
Match 8 Winner v Runner-up

 

[jiggles]

Congrats to the boys! Here's hoping for a fantastic run for them.

 

[FFC Mariner]

If he continues to develop like he has, Amini is a contender for the Timmy role. Kid could be anything.

Long way to go yet of course but I doubt he will be with us for the whole of his contract.

 

[kevrenor]

HO CHI MINH CITY
25 July 2010

The Qantas Young Socceroos made an excellent start to the Asean Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championships 2010 in Vietnam with a 1-nil victory over Korea Republic.

In an encouraging performance a Dimitrios Petratos goal midway through the first half was enough to see off a determined and aggressive Korean team.

Korea Republic made good early progress adapting quicker to the wet and slippery conditions, during the first 20 minutes the Koreans continually looked to play the ball in behind the Australian defensive line hoping to capatilise on the conditions but with Mark Birighitti in commanding form the through balls and high balls into the box were effectively cut out.

Dylan McGowan and Brendan Hamill were making timely interceptions and as the game settled started to control the play from the back.

Their excellent passes into the midfield enabled Ben Kantarovski and young Mustafa Amini to dictate play. Amini, 17, a recent graduate from the AIS Program was particularly impressive showing great ability to conjure chances for his teammates from tight areas in attack.
<snip>

Australia                      1 (Dimitrios Petratos 22')
Korea Republic            0
24 July 2010
AFF U-19 Youth Championships 2010
Thong Nat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Qantas Young Socceroos starting line-up: 1. Mark Birighitti (GK), 2. Nikola Stanojevic, 3. Brendan Hamill, 4. Sam Gallagher, 6. Benjamin Kantarovski (c), 7. Mathew Leckie, 8. Steven Lustica (5. Kliment Taseski 62nd), 12. Dimitrios Petratos (20. Ryan Edwards 75th), 13. Mustafa Amini, 15. Kamal Ibrahim (11. Benjamin Halloran 62nd), 19. Dylan McGowan

Substitutes not used: 9. Eli Babalj, 10.Christopher Bush, 14.Matthew Fletcher, 16.Daniel Bowles, 17.Theodore Markelis, 18.Matthew Acton (GK)

Australia's next game is against Thailand on Monday 26th July at 4.00pm at Thong Nhat Stadium.

 

[kevrenor]

Amini & Gallagher played full games again!

Australia 1 (Brendan Hamill 3') drew with
Thailand 1 (Pattana Sokjoho 71')

26 July 2010
AFF U-19 Youth Championships 2010
Thong Nat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Qantas Young Socceroos starting line-up: 1. Mark Birighitti (GK), 2. Nikola Stanojevic, 3. Brendan Hamill (16. Daniel Bowles 41'), 4. Sam Gallagher, 6. Benjamin Kantarovski (c), 7. Mathew Leckie, 10. Christopher Bush (5. Kliment Taseski 46'), 11. Benjamin Halloran, 12. Dimitrios Petratos (14. Matthew Fletcher 82'), 13. Mustafa Amini, 19. Dylan McGowan

Substitutes not used: 8. Steven Lustica, 9. Eli Babalj, 15. Kamal Ibrahim, 17. Theodore Markelis, 18. Matthew Acton (GK), 20. Ryan Edwards

 

[midfielder]

HMMMMMMMMM beat Korea then draw with Thailand ... go figure...

But the boys seem to be doing good and they are our future...

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Last times winners... must be a good squad the Thai boys - I hope some A league scouts are over there.

 

[greenlig]

Amini scored the opener against Vietnam. Would love to see some footage of them playing.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1015727/Young-Socceroos-romp-into-final

 

[kevrenor]

HO CHI MINH CITY
29 July 2010

The Qantas Young Socceroos will take on defending champion Thailand in the AFF U-19 Youth Championships 2010 Final after a convincing 4 - 1 win over  the previously unbeaten Vietnam team .

With Australia already guaranteed a place in the final due to the earlier game between Korea Republic and Thailand ending in a nil-all draw the Qantas Young Socceroos put on their best performance against a Vietnamese team searching for a draw that would have booked their passage in the final.

With a large vocal crowd still getting to their seats, 17-year-old Mustafa Amini opened the scoring for the Qantas Young Socceroos in the opening minute after Nikola Stanjevic played a tremendous ball into the box for Sunderland FC striker Matthew Fletcher to flick the ball to an onrushing Amini.

Amini then lobbed the ball over his opponent before hitting a sweet half volley past the advancing Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Buu Ngoc.

<snip>

Australia 4
(Mustafa Amini 1', Mathew Leckie 14', Benjamin Halloran 40', Eli Babalj 73')
defeated
Vietnam  1                   
(Nguyen Van Thanh 57')
28 July 2010
AFF U-19 Youth Championships 2010
Thong Nat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Qantas Young Socceroos starting line-up: 18. Matthew Acton (GK), 2. Nikola Stanojevic, 4. Sam Gallagher, 6. Benjamin Kantarovski (c), 7. Mathew Leckie (20. Ryan Edwards 46'), 8. Steven Lustica, 11. Benjamin Halloran, 13. Mustafa Amini (17. Theodore Markelis 46'), 14. Matthew Fletcher (9. Eli Babalj 60'), 16. Daniel Bowles, 19. Dylan McGowan

Substitutes not used: 1. Mark Birighitti (GK), 3. Brendan Hamill, 5. Kliment Taseski, 10. Christopher Bush, 12. Dimitrios Petratos, 15. Kamal Ibrahim.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Good stuff!!!

 

[greenlig]

LATE BABALJ WINNER GIVES AUSTRALIA U19 CROWN

HO CHI MINH CITY (30 July 2010) - Australia won their second AFF Under-19 Championship in three years when they beat Thailand 1-0 in the final that was played at the Thong Nhat Stadium - courtesy of a late goal from Eli Babalj nine minutes to the end.

With the score at a stalemate at the half and seemingly heading towards extra-time, Babalj pounced on a poor Thai clearance to give Australia the lead and what in the end turned out to be the winner.

It will not be a final if it was an easy game, said Johannes Versleijen, the chief coach of Australia afterwards.

And I must say that we were lucky to score the goal late in the game although we are happy to win the championship this year.

I must thank the AFF, the VFF and also the sponsors for making this tournament possible. It is an important tournament for youth development.

Playing in their repeat final of 2009 in which the Thais won the penalty shootout, it was Australia who dictated the pace early in the game.

And it did not take them long to test the Thai defence when in the seventh minute, Mathew Leckie nodded in a corner which forced a superb block from Thai keeper Wasan Narsuan.

In the 22nd minute, Australia pushed forward once again but an attempt from Mohamad Mustafa Amini was blocked by an outsretched Mark Birighitti.

The Thais tried to push forward through Ponlachai Honthong and Visarut Naingan but Australia stood firm at the back as the game stood scoreless at the break.

With Thailands best chance in the game coming in only in the 63rd minute of play when Pattana Sokjoho broke through, his try narrowly missed the upright.

That failure to score would cost them dearly as in the 81st minute, Wasans failure to catch the ball from a cross saw Pittayat Mangkata making a poor clearance which Babalj did not need a second invitation to pounce for the goal.

We tried to make things hard for Australia but it did not happen, added Thai chief coach Chalermvud Sangnapol.

But at least the boys played a hard game and the goal they scored was our mistake.

In the meantime, South Korea emerged third in the competition when they beat hosts Vietnam 7-6 in sudden death penalty.

The score at the end of regulation was 1-1.

South Korea took the lead in the ninth minute when an attempt from Kim Ryun Do from the right took a deflection from Vietnam defender Phan Luu The Son.

The hosts however fought back in the second half and duly equalised in the 51st minute when captain Ngo Hoang Thinh made good on the hardwork of Nguyen Dinh Bao to score to force the game into penalty.

With both teams converting all five penalties, the game then went into sudden death penalty which South Korea emerged triumphant through Kim Young Nam.

Vietnams Le Thai Quang had his try coming off the crossbar instead.

Other than coming in third, South Korea also picked up the award for Fair Play.


RESULTS

24 July: AUSTRALIA 1 SOUTH KOREA 0/ VIETNAM 1 THAILAND 1

26 July: THAILAND 1 AUSTRALIA 1/ SOUTH KOREA 1 VIETNAM 1

28 July: SOUTH KOREA 0 THAILAND 0/ VIETNAM 1AUSTRALIA 4

30 July: SOUTH KOREA 1 (7) VIETNAM 1(6)/ THAILAND 0 AUSTRALIA 1

 

[kevrenor]

FINAL

Australia 1 (Eli Babalj 81')
defeated
Thailand 0

30 July 2010
AFF U-19 Youth Championships 2010
Thong Nat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Qantas Young Socceroos starting line-up: 1. Mark Birighitti (GK), 2. Nikola Stanojevic, 3.
Brendan Hamill, 6. Benjamin Kantarovsk (c), 7. Mathew Leckie, 8. Steven Lustica (9. Eli
Babalj 60th), 11. Benjamin Halloran (20. Ryan Edwards 85th), 13. Mustafa Amini (5. Kliment
Taseski 82nd), 14. Matthew Fletcher, 16. Daniel Bowles, 19. Dylan McGowan

Substitutes not used: 10. Christopher Bush, 12. Dimitrios Petratos, 15. Kamal Ibrahim, 17.
Theodore Markelis, 18. Matthew Acton (GK).

Unavailable: Sam Gallagher (Suspended)