Latest news with #10FootballAU
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall the hero as Young Socceroos win the U20 Asian Cup
The Young Socceroos have battled their way to glory in the Under-20 Asian Cup, beating Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout in the final on a breakthrough day for Australian soccer in China. Led by inspirational player-of-the-tournament Alex Badolato and inspired at the death by the goalkeeping of Steven Hall, the national team, made up largely of teenagers, became the first Australian side to lift the continent's junior crown in the tournament's 66-year history. Coach Trevor Morgan's side were probably the superior team over an engrossing two hours in Shenzhen's Baoan Sports Centre on Saturday night, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw over the 90 minutes before extra-time couldn't separate the sides. Lifting the #AFCU20 trophy for the first time 🏆What a moment for our #YoungSocceroos 🥹🎥 @10FootballAU#AUSvKSA — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) March 1, 2025 In the shootout, though, the Australian teens kept their nerve best converting all their five spot kicks confidently before Hall proved their hero of the hour, saving the last of the Saudi Arabian penalties from a crestfallen Bassam Hazazi to seal a 5-4 win. Amid ecstatic scenes of celebration, it meant the Young Socceroos become the first Australia team to win a major tournament since Ange Postecoglou guided the senior men's outfit to the 2015 Asian Cup title. It put the seal on a remarkable tournament for the Australian youngsters, most of whom play in the A-League Men, as they won all six of their matches, scoring 16 goals, while also booking a place in the Under-20 World Cup later in Chile later this year. Steven Hall, that is all 🧤The moment the #YoungSocceroos became #AFCU20 Champions 💚💛🎥 @10FootballAU #AUSvKSA — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) March 1, 2025 For Hall, once the youngest goalie ever to appear in the A-League Men who only turned 20 in January, it was a special night which had looked, initially, as if it might prove a heartbreaking one as he was culpable for the Saudis' equaliser in first-half stoppage time. With the Young Socceroos leading 1-0 through Louis Agosti's 24th minute volley, the Saudis levelled when Talal Haji's rocket header was bulleted straight at Hall, who had already retreated behind his own goalline when he made the save. Hall looked a picture of misery when, after a lengthy deliberation by VAR, it was ruled the keeper who's now plying his trade with Brighton in the Premier League had made the stop behind the line. But it was Hall's only blemish as he made a couple of key saves even before he went low to his right and stuck up his left-hand instinctively to thwart Hazazi in the shootout and send his teammates into delirium. Louis Agosti's volley gives the #YoungSocceroos the lead in the #AFCU20 Final!!! 🚀👏🎥 @10FootballAU#AUSvKSA — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) March 1, 2025 Australia's Italy-based captain Sebastian Esposito reckoned the setback just before the break never unsettled his side. "We were very confident, we know how good we are, we've had belief in this group for two years," he said. "It's unbelievable, and we can't wait to lift the trophy and go on to the World Cup. We're ready for the World Cup, we're ready for anything!" Coach Morgan had hoped his players would enjoy being in the "shop window" for their continental triumph, and there were several stand-outs, like Danish-based Musa Toure, QPR's exciting winger Daniel Bennie and the outstanding Melbourne City midfielder, Badolato, who caught the eye. The 20-year-old Badolato was voted the tournament's MVP for a series of influential displays, headed by his brilliant goal in the quarter-final win over Iraq.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Young Socceroos beat Japan to reach U20 Asian Cup final
The Young Socceroos have reached the final of the Under-20 Asian Cup for the first time in 15 years after the cream of Australia's young footballing talent defeated Japan 2-0 in China. Second-half goals from the outstanding Musa Toure and Jaylan Pearman in Shenzhen's Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on Wednesday were enough to pilot Trevor Morgan's largely teenage side into Saturday's showdown against Saudi Arabia. It's the first time Australia have reached the final of the junior continental championship since it was last held in China in 2010, and the Young Socceroos were beaten 3-2 at the last hurdle by North Korea. OMG! IT'S A PEARLER FROM PEARMAN!!! 😱🔝🗑️🎥 @10FootballAU#YoungSocceroos #AFCU20 #AUSvJPN — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 26, 2025 Morgan's youngsters have won all five of their matches to get there too, a considerable achievement which was capped by them proving the stronger side against a technically adept Japanese team who had defeated them 2-1 in a friendly just three weeks earlier. Saudi Arabia had earlier on Wednesday won their semi-final against South Korea, prevailing in a penalty shootout 3-2 after a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Hamed Al Shanqiti proved the Saudis' hero, saving two spot-kicks in the shootout.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie teens defeat hosts China in Under 20 Asian Cup
Australia's rising soccer teens have pulled off a notable triumph at the Under-20 men's Asian Cup, completing their 100 per cent group-stage winning record with a 2-1 triumph over hosts China in Shenzhen. Two goals from Medin Memeti and Louis Agosti, just 82 seconds apart midway through the first half on Tuesday, gave the Young Socceroos a lead they protected with aplomb, despite China hitting back within five minutes of that double with a fine strike from Kuai Jiwen. The win, following a 5-1 victory over the Kyrgyz Repubic and a 3-1 triumph against Qatar, ensured that Australia topped group A to qualify for the quarter-finals with a maximum nine points, ahead of previously unbeaten China on six. Persistence personified 😤Tiago Quintal wouldn't give up and Medin Memetic did the rest!🎥 @10FootballAU#YoungSocceroos #AFCU20 #CHNvAUS — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 18, 2025 Victory in Saturday's last-eight clash, against a team yet to be decided from group B, would earn Trevor Morgan's team the huge prize of a place in the Under-20 World Cup for the first time since 2013. What will encourage their English coach is his squad's enviable strength-in-depth. With qualification already assured, Morgan was able to experiment and rotate, fielding a team featuring nine changes from the one that beat Qatar which still proved hugely competitive. Both goals owed much to the Australians' hunger for the battle, as they twice won midfield scraps to set up the decisive scores. Sydney FC's Tiago Quintal was brilliant for the first goal in the 23rd minute as he muscled in to win the ball in midfield, then foraged forward surrounded by three defenders before slipping in Memeti. Memeti, the 17-year-old Melbourne City striker who's the youngest player in the Australian squad, still had much to do in the box, but was able to recover the ball after his first attempt was blocked, swivel and shoot between the legs of the Chinese keeper. Almost straight from the kick-off, the Aussies then won the ball back again with Quintal again at the heart of another counter-attack, cutting back for Italy-based Agosti, who plays in Serie C with Perugia, to blast home a deflected shot from close range. A crazy 90 seconds as Louis Agosti doubles the advantage virtually from the re-start! 🤯🎥 @10FootballAU#YoungSocceroos #AFCU20 #CHNvAUS — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 18, 2025 The home side, cheered on at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium by a noisy, partisan crowd, hit back soon after with Kuai expertly controlling Xu Junchi's cross before unleashing an unstoppable volley. From there, the Socceroos still mostly looked comfortable despite being on the back foot, with Macarthur keeper Alex Robinson coming up trumps when needed, with a brilliant double save soon after half-time and another key stop in stoppage time.
