logo
Young Socceroos book U20 World Cup place after worldie

Young Socceroos book U20 World Cup place after worldie

Yahoo22-02-2025

Australia's young soccer stars are celebrating a huge double prize in China after a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Iraq not only booked them a place in the Under-20 Asian Cup semi-finals but also ensured they'll play in the U20 World Cup later this year.
In a game of stunning goals in Shenzhen on Saturday, the crowning moment for the Young Socceroos came with a belting 75th minute volley from Melbourne Victory's Alex Badolato that sealed a terrific quarter-final triumph in which they'd twice had to battle back from a goal behind.
The victory, which sparked huge celebrations among Trevor Morgan's enterprising young team in the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium, ensures the Aussie teenagers will face either Japan or Iran in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
ABSOLUTE SCENES AT THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE! 🎉WE'RE OFF TO CHILE! 🥳#YoungSocceroos #AFCU20 #AUSvIRQ pic.twitter.com/hz3u8r3BMw
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 22, 2025
But most importabtly, the win also seals their spot at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September and October, the first time Australia have competed in the global showpiece since 2013.
Yet it didn't start well for the Young Socceroos when Amoori Faisal put the Iraqis ahead with a superb curling strike on the quarter-hour after the Aussies had been caught in possession in midfield.
Within seven minutes, though, Adelaide United prospect Luka Jovanovic delivered an astonishing riposte, earning a free-kick about 30 metres out and then trying his luck with a thunderbolt set-piece strike that caught Iraq keeper Wisam Ali napping.
Luka Jovanovic dispatches a wonderful free-kick 🎯🎥 @10FootballAU #YoungSocceroos #AFCU20 #AUSvIRQ pic.twitter.com/vnFNX5rqy2
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 22, 2025
But the Iraqis went back ahead in the 26th minute when Mustafa Qabeel latched on to fine lofted through ball from Layth Mahmood, outpaced Sebastian Esposito, then turned the same Australian defender inside out again before firing home.
Iraq had their chances to increase their lead but Karrar Jaafar's volleyed effort was blocked by Paul Okon-Engstler and after Musa Toure had missed a headed chance for Australia, the equaliser came just a few minutes later after the half-hour mark when Iraq failed to clear Okon-Engstler's cross.
That left Badolato to set up Panagiotis Kikianis for a curling right-footed finish that any central defender would have been proud of.
Steven Hall, once the youngest goalkeeper in A-League Men history at Adelaide and now at Premier League Brighton, did his bit with a couple of key saves, one from Muslim Mousa's header.
WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE HIT TO GIVE THE #YOUNGSOCCEROOS THE LEAD! 🚀Alex Badolato take a bow. 😮🎥 @10FootballAU #AFCU20 #AUSvIRQ pic.twitter.com/aTsceUpM4R
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 22, 2025
Then just two minutes later, Mousa's headed clearance at the other end only fell kindly for Badolato, the Victory midfielder who's just signed on loan from Western Sydney, and his thunderous volley from just outside the box ripped into the net for the most spectacular of winners.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Socceroo silences 'keyboard warriors' with heroics
Socceroo silences 'keyboard warriors' with heroics

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Socceroo silences 'keyboard warriors' with heroics

Mitch Duke wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Then he sealed Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then, Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. After conceding the opener, things looked dangerous for Australia. Then, in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned veteran striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. Mitch Duke with the goal that might qualify the #Socceroos for the #FIFAWorldCup 💚💛⁰⁰Beautiful ball in from Boyle and Duke makes no mistake! 💥⁰⁰📱💻📺: Paramount+📻: ABC Radio via the ABC Listen App #KSAvAUS — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 10, 2025 "I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest," Duke said. "Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: "Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. "But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good." The veteran striker had previously been open about said keyboard warriors and critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. He also relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Tony Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games. "It feels damn good," Duke said. "Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable. "Personal triumph feels very good, but I'm more happy just for the boys. "It's a game of big moments as well, and everyone stepped up when they needed to." Duke knows he will have to keep kicking up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America. "Mate, all I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well, and that's all you can do," he said. "And to be fair, there's a lot of young players up and coming. "Mo Toure when he came on, he's an absolute beast. "So I think there's exciting prospects as well, especially with the strikers and the young ones."

Brighton's trailblazer Aisha Masaka: ‘It was my dream to play in Europe'
Brighton's trailblazer Aisha Masaka: ‘It was my dream to play in Europe'

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Brighton's trailblazer Aisha Masaka: ‘It was my dream to play in Europe'

Aisha Masaka became the first Tanzanian footballer to play in the Women's Super League (WSL) when she signed for Brighton last summer, and she is a pioneer for her country in several ways. Masaka was the first to play in the Champions League, when she was with the Swedish Club BK Häcken, from 2022 to 2024, and recently launched the AKM Foundation, aimed at fighting poverty and promoting gender equality through sport. Masaka started playing street football as a teenager and dabbled in every other sport available to her including basketball and volleyball, much to her parents' dismay. 'We fought a lot because parents, especially in Africa, find it difficult to allow their girls to play football,' says the 21-year-old. 'They wanted me to go to school and not be involved in any sport at all.'. Advertisement Related: Kenza Dali: 'I will tell my story after the Euros. A lot of lies have been told' However, Masaka persisted and her parents could not hold her back when she was offered a place at the Alliance Academy in the city of Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria. 'When the opportunity came, I told them I had to take it,' Masaka says. 'It was an academic school and a football academy, so that's why they agreed to let me to go there. They said If I was going to study and play then it was OK for them. That's where my career started.' The academy proved the perfect training ground for Masaka, who from there went to Yanga Princess, the female-affiliate of Tanzania's most successful club team, Young Africans. It was not long before she was on the national radar, and in 2020 was part of the Tanzanian team that participated as invited guests at the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Under-17 Championship. Tanzania won, beating Zambia on penalties in the final, with Masaka earning the golden boot. She scored 10 goals and had done enough to be spotted by a scout from Europe and offered a deal in Sweden. It was a big move for a teenager but one Masaka had to take. 'It was my dream to play in Europe, so when that opportunity came I didn't hesitate to take it. I was very excited to go to play in Europe,' she says. 'The environment is different, everything is different and it was my first time living alone, so it was a big change. But I managed well.' Advertisement Masaka made her debut for Häcken in the second qualifying-round of the 2022-23 Champions League, against Paris Saint-Germain. Masaka scored five goals in 14 appearances for the club before moving to England. 'It was amazing because everyone at home saw that I was signed for a top league and they looked at it as a big achievement for me and for the country,' she says. Is Tanzania now filled with Brighton supporters? 'Definitely,' Masaka laughs. 'It's also important for other footballers because the players who play in the top league and the national team look at me and say that I play in a top league and with big players and they know they can do it too.' Masaka's experiences in the WSL have not quite gone to plan. She made her debut for Brighton as an 87th-minute substitute against Arsenal in November and almost immediately fell, severely injuring her shoulder in the process. She was sidelined for five months, which was hugely frustrating but Masaka used her time out wisely, conceptualising AKM. It was launched last month and well and truly kicked off last weekend with an all-stars charity match, a few days after Masaka received the Female Athlete of the Year award from Tanzania's National Sports Council. The prize was in recognition of Masaka's international record, namely scoring nine times in 16 appearances for Tanzania and being part of the squad that qualified for this summer's Women's Africa Cup of Nations for only the second time in the country's history. 'It was big pressure,' Masaka says. 'I don't think I have ever experienced that before, but it was amazing for me to qualify for the first time and for the second time as a country. When Tanzania qualified for the first time, I wasn't even playing football.' Advertisement Tanzania are in the same group as the defending champions, South Africa, Ghana and Mali and Masaka is hopeful they will acquit themselves. 'I have been a player in two big tournaments: the Champions League and the Women's Super League but the Women's Africa Cup of Nations is so special for me because there I represent the country,' she says. 'I believe we're going to perform well and my dream is to get to the quarter-finals.' Masaka also hopes Tanzania can qualify for Wafcon again, the process for which begins in March next year. She also has domestic ambitions. 'At Brighton I also hope we can fight and be top four and then to go to Champions League.' Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email • This is an extract from our free weekly email, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts is back in to its twice-weekly format, delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday.

5 Italy players to watch out for in the U21 Euros
5 Italy players to watch out for in the U21 Euros

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

5 Italy players to watch out for in the U21 Euros

The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament begins next week in Slovakia. The tournament in its previous editions has thrown up several stars who first gained prominence during this tournament. Italy are in a difficult group with Spain, Romania and hosts Slovakia. That being said, there is enough talent in the squad for them to do well. Here, we look at 5 of their players you should watch out for. 5. Matteo Ruggeri – Matteo Ruggeri is 22 and has made 30 appearances in the Serie A this season for Atalanta. He is a left wing-back with a good cross in his locker. He has already been called up to the senior team before. 4. Wilfried Gnonto – His first season in the Premier League was a remarkable one but his stock has fallen a little. Still only 21, the attacker contributed to 15 goals as Leeds won the Championship. 3. Tommaso Baldanzi – An interesting midfielder currently playing backup to Paulo Dybala at Roma. A good playmaker, this could be the tournament where Baldanzi makes headlines. 2. Michael Kayode – Perhaps presently the best player on this list, Kayode's loan move from Fiorentina to Brentford recently became permanent. It will shock nobody if the right-back moves to a bigger club within a year. 1. Cesare Casadei – A powerful box-to-box midfield, Casadei came up as a highly-rated youth prospect. He didn't make the greatest impact in England but a move back to Italy with Torino has worked out well so far. In the 2023 U20 World Cup, he won both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards. Kaulik Mitra I GIFN

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store