QANTAS JOEYS SECURE QUALIFICATION FOR ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

QANTAS JOEYS SECURE QUALIFICATION FOR ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Report from FFA below:


The Qantas Joeys have secured qualification for next year’s AFC (Asian Football Confederation) U-16 Championship following a scoreless draw against DPR (North) Korea at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore overnight.

The draw against the Koreans, combined with a 2-0 win over Malaysia on Wednesday, guarantees Australia a top-two finish in the abbreviated three-team preliminary qualifying group. Malaysia and DPR Korea will fight out for the second berth in the final group match on Sunday.



Australia’s best opportunity came seven minutes after the interval when Kamal Ibrahim was hauled back in the penalty area, however Ben Kantarovski sent the spot kick wide of the post.



Kantarovski’s miss was almost punished by the Koreans, who had the ball in the back of the net in the 74th minute, but saw the goal ruled out following an offside after the initial shot had hit the post.

The venue for the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship is yet to be determined with the top-ranked teams to go on and represent Asia at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

For more match details see:- www.footballaustralia.com.au





Australia 0

DPR Korea 0



Australian line-up: Nicholas Tubbs (gk), Marc Warren, Petar Franjic, Jared Lum, Joel Miller, Ben Kantarovski, Nikola Stanojoeic (Million Butshiire 73’), Kamal Ibrahim, Chahine Noujaim, Trent Sainsbury (Brendon Hamill 92’), Eli Babalj (Mitchell Mallia 71’)


Cautions: Warren (15’), Kantarovski (29’), Miller (83’)


The Qantas Joeys squad is:
Eli Babalj (State - WA), Chris Bush (ACT), Million Butshiire (WA), Cameron Edwards (WA), Nick Fitzgerald (NSW), Petar Franjic (VIC), Brendan Hamill (NSW), Kamal Ibrahim (VIC), Ben Kantarovski (NNSW), George Klappas (NSW), Robert Kolak (NSW), Jared Lum (NSW), Mitchell Mallia (NSW), Joel Miller (SA), Chahine Noujaim (SA), Trent Sainsbury (WA), Nikola Stanojevic (NSW), Nick Tubbs (QLD), Marc Warren (NSW), Tedros Yabio (VIC)

Qantas Joeys Fixtures:
Mon 15 Oct training match v Singapore U15, Singapore Sports School, 7.30pm kick off local time, 1-0
Wed 17 Oct Australia v Malaysia, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7pm kick off local time, 2-0

Fri 19 Oct v DPR Korea, Jalan Besar Stadium, 7pm kick off local time, 0-0