Qantas Young Socceroos draw final tour match
The Qantas Young Socceroos have finished their South American tour with a 2-2 draw in a friendly match against the Argentinos Juniors Youth team in Buenos Aires.
The Qantas Young Socceroos have finished their South American tour with a 2-2 draw in a friendly match against the Argentinos Juniors Youth team in Buenos Aires.
After conceding the opening goal in the 35th minute of the first half, the Qantas Young Socceroos equalised in the 65th minute after Jason Hoffman was taken down in the box. Aaron Mooy converted the resulting penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Chris Payne had a chance to give the Qantas Young Socceroos the lead in the 70th minute when Aaron Mooy set-him up with a one-on-one opportunity, but the Argentinos Juniors goalkeeper pulled off a great save to deny him.
Unfortunately, a minute later, a mistake by Qantas Young Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne whilst trying to clear the ball gifted Argentinos Juniors a goal to give the hosts the lead again.
The Qantas Young Socceroos scored the equaliser in the 76th minute after Argentinos Juniors turned over possession just outside their box. Aaron Mooy gathered and passed to Chris Payne out wide. Payne crossed in from the edge of the box to Jason Hoffman who headed in from close range.
Reflecting on the match and the tour as a whole, Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen was pleased with what his team achieved and had shown him over the past week.
“We started slowly which was disappointing, we should have controlled the tempo and pace of the goal and we turned the ball over too often. The second half was a lot better and the intensity was improved," said Versleijen.
“The tour has been very successful from playing South American teams and we have learnt a great deal leading into the U-20 World Cup.
“What this tour has also showed is which players are up to the level required to compete at the World Cup and this has provided me with further information on our players as I work towards selecting the final squad," concluded Versleijen.
The Qantas Young Socceroos will return to Australia on Sunday with the bulk of the squad preparing to line up for their respective clubs in the opening round of the Hyundai A-League competition..
The Qantas Young Socceroos will then focus on the FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in Egypt from 24 September to 16 October. Australia has drawn Brazil, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic in the group stage.
Match Details
Argentinos Juniors 2 Australia 2 (Aaron Mooy 65-(pen), Jason Hoffman 76-)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Qantas Young Socceroos Line-up: Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), Peter CVETANOVSKI, Luke DEVERE (c) (Matthew JURMAN 46-), Antony GOLEC,, Aaron MOOY, Chris PAYNE, Jason NAIDOVSKI (Jason HOFFMAN 46-), Nik TSATTALIOS, Isaka CERNAK, Osama MALIK, Rocco VISCONTE.
Substitutes Not Used: Alex CISAK (gk), Sam MUNRO, Tahj MINNIECON, Kofi DANNING, Nathan ELASI, Nikola STANOJEVIC.
Yellow Cards: nil Red Cards: Nil
Qantas Young Socceroos Squad List
Isaka Cernak (Brisbane Roar), Alex Cisak (Leicester City, UK), Peter Cvetanovski (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Kofi Danning (Sydney FC), Luke DeVere (Brisbane Roar), Nathan Elasi (Melbourne Victory), Antony Golec (Sydney FC), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC), Osama Malik (North Queensland Fury), Tahj Minniecon (Gold Coast United), Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, UK), Sam Munro (Sydney FC), Jason Naidovski (Newcastle Jets), Mitch Nichols (Brisbane Roar), Chris Payne (Sydney FC), Andrew Redmayne (Central Coast Mariners), Nikola Stanojevic (AIS), Nik Tsattalios (Newcastle Jets), Rocco Visconte (Hearts FC, Scotland).
For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, please go to www.fifa.com/u20worldcup