Young Socceroos defeated

Report from FFA

LATE CHINESE GOAL SINKS QANTAS YOUNG SOCCEROOS



The only goal of the match scored four minutes from full time by host-nation China has halted the Qantas Young Socceroos undefeated run overnight in the Weifang Cup.

The match was a tight contest throughout with the deadlock broken by the home side with a near post header direct from a corner.



Australia’s best chance to score came after eight minutes when Milos Lujic set up Matt Mullen who, with the goalkeeper out of position, put his shot wide of the post.



On the hour Australia Tahj Minniecon worked his way into the left side of the penalty box, playing a ball to James Brown who fed the ball back to James Holland, but with the goalkeeper exposed he failed to convert the chance.



The 1-0 loss follows a win by the same scoreline over the Korean Republic last Friday, and then a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Iran on Sunday.

The tournament is the first international outing for the current generation of Young Socceroos who will complete their schedule with further matches against Uzbekistan and top Chinese club Shandong Luneng.



Qualification for the 2009 FIFA World Youth Cup will commence in October with the first stage of qualifying to be followed next year by the AFC U-19 Championship.





Match Details:



China 1 (86’)
Australia 0



Australian line-up: Andrew Redmayne (gk); Luke De Vere, Sebastian Ryall, James Holland, Matthew Mullen (Matt Theodore 60’), Isaka Cernak-Okanya, James Brown (Bonel Obradovic 87’), Tahj Minniecon (Richard Greer 90'), Jason Hoffman (Matthew Harper 88’), Milos Lujic, Daniel Mullen



Cautions: M Mullen 25’, Hoffman 40’, Brown 42’, Minniecon 88’