Minniecon rescues point for Qantas Young Socceroos

The Qantas Young Socceroos remain on course to advance to the next stage of the 2009 AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistan overnight.

The Qantas Young Socceroos remain on course to advance to the next stage of the 2009 AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistan overnight.

Queensland Roar's Tahj Minniecon scored Australia's goal, his equaliser coming early in the second half at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Khobar..

Australia had gone behind to a Sherzodbek Karimov shot seven minutes before the break, as they made good use of a strong wind behind their backs to have Australia pegged back for much of the half.

The result leaves both Uzbekistan and Australia on four points at the top of the standings with one match to play against Thailand and Jordan respectively. In the other group match, Thailand beat Jordan 3-2.

The first half was pretty much one-way traffic, as Uzbekistan used the strong wind to good effect.

Karimov posed problems for the Australia defence throughout the first-half and was the first to have an attempt at goal; his shot going over the bar.

Just when Australia thought they might hold out till the break, Karimov managed to evade several Australian defenders on the edge of the box and then hit a superb shot past Andrew Redmayne.

But if Karimov was the hero in the first half, he turned viliian in the second half, when he carelessly turned the ball over to Minniecon in the penalty area, who drilled a low shot past the Uzbekistan keeper.

Uzbekistan though continued to attack and Karimov again went close with a chipped attempt over Redmayne, while the Central Coast Mariners custodian was forced to turn a Turaev shot around the post.

The Qantas Young Socceroos came home hard late in the match, but could find no way past the Uzbekistan defence, with both settling for a point and confident they can progress through to the quarter finals.

Australia coach Jan Versleijen was disappointed by the performance of his side, saying his side was waiting for things to happen, rather than them making it happen.

“We did not play a good game, especially in the first half,” he said after the match. "We had too many misplaced passes but the Uzbekistan defence was also very good.

“We didn't really create any good chances to score. We were waiting for the ball to fall for us in the area and it didn't happen.

“Now we still have to go to the third game to qualify.”

“It was important not to lose as we still have qualification in our own hands,” he added.