Latest news with #AlexBadolato
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Young Socceroos book U20 World Cup place after worldie
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 — 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 — 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 — 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.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Young Socceroos power into U20 Asian Cup quarter-finals
The Young Socceroos have won their second-straight match in China to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Asian Cup and move one win away from a place at the World Cup. Australia's top teenagers proved too good for Qatar at Shenzhen's Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium on Saturday, coming from behind to win 3-1 with goals from Alex Badolato, Dean Bosnjak and Daniel Bennie. Qatar had gone ahead in the 18th minute through Mohamed Gouda, but Australia hit back swiftly with Josh Inserra providing the cutback for his Melbourne Victory teammate Alex Badolato to finish. An impressive performance boys 🔥💚💛 — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) February 15, 2025 Dean Bosnjak, one of the five changes to Trevor Morgan's team's line-up following their opening 5-1 win over the Kyrgyz Republic, put them ahead after the break with a header from a Tiago Quintal's corner. Then after an attacking triple-substitution just after the hour mark saw Adam Bugarija, Musa Toure and 18-year-old Bennie introduced by Morgan, it was the English-based QPR winger Bennie who soon thrashed home a blistering 69th minute shot for his second goal of the tournament. Daniel Bennie is on 🔥 at #AFCU20! #QATvAUS — #AsianQualifiers (@afcasiancup) February 15, 2025 "Very happy to be on the scoresheet, the boys were up for this one," said Macarthur's impressive Bosnjak. "Qatar were a decent team and have some quality players. It was a very physical game, and we just proved to be better than them today." Talking of their resilience in fighting from a goal down, he added: "We work well, we stick together. If we make mistake, we back each other and know what we can do." With China winning the other group A match on Saturday 5-2 against the Kyrgyz Republic, both the hosts and Australia ensured they'll be in the quarter-finals. All that's to be decided is who tops the group when the two teams meet in the final group match on Tuesday. By qualifying for the last-eight, the Young Socceroos have matched the achievement of the side that made the quarters in the last U-20 Asian Cup tournament. That team got beaten in a quarter-final penalty shootout by Uzbekistan, who went on to win the event on home soil. If Morgan's side win their last-eight match, it will guarantee they'll be one of the four semi-finalists who'll go to the U-20 World Cup in Chile in September and October. Australia haven't played in that event since 2013.
