The Joeys were defeated 2-3 by the host nation Thailand in their opening match of the AFC U-16 Championship qualifier at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok last night.
Having taken the lead through Taylor Tombides early in the match, the Joeys conceded three goals within a 15 minute period either side of half-time before Conor O’Neill pegged a goal back just before the hour mark to give his team hope.
Despite a flurry of late chances, an Australian equaliser did not eventuate.
Joeys Head Coach Jan Versleijen was very disappointed with his team’s first up performance, but is confident that they’ll be able to bounce back.
“Without having played much together before the tournament, it took us some time to get the cohesion that we needed to play well,” said Versleijen.
“Although the conditions were very difficult for the players, we created enough chances to win the game, but were unable to convert them to take the points.
“Fortunately, the tournament does not depend on a single result, so we must now regroup and make sure we win the next matches to ensure qualification to the AFC Championship,” concluded Versleijen.
In the other Group G matches in Hong Kong defeated Guam 4-1 and Indonesia were also 4-1 winners over Myanmar.
The Joeys will next face Myanmar on Wednesday 14 September (kick-off 6:00pm local, 9.00pm AEST).
Match Details
Thailand 3 (Jutitep TONGLIM 44’, Amnart PAMORNPRASERT 50’ (pen), Saran PUANGBUT 53’)
Qantas Joeys 2 (Taylor TOMBIDES 11’, Conor O'NEILL 59’)
Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Monday 12 September 2011
Referee: Iida JUMPEI (JAPAN)
Assistant Referees: Barabash IGOR (TURKMENISTAN) & Surindranath S/O KASEENATHAN (SINGAPORE)
Fourth Official: Sukhbir SINGH (SINGAPORE)
Crowd: 1,200
Thailand line up: 1.Apirak WORAWONG (gk), 4.Rachen SOBUNMA, 7.Saran PUANGBUT, 11.Sittichok KANNOO, 21.Suchanon MALISON (35.Chavarit BUNTEE 79’), 22.Amnart PAMORNPRASERT, 23.Jutitep TONGLIM, 28.Supravee MIPRATHANG, 29.Jeerawut KULCHART, 33.Atthawit SUKCHUAI, 45.Kunawut MAPERM,
Substitutes not used: 6.Vittavut NETKHAM, 9.Sorravid SUKBANTHOENG, 10.Saharat UNSAPCHAROEN, 13.Suradet KLANKHAM, 14.Gidtiphong SIRISAENG, 17.Supat WONGWAINET, 32.Sethawut LIMJANON (gk), 37.Narubed CHANPRASIT, 39.Wasin TIAMMUANG, 42.Panya RONGNUAN, 50.Seksan SOMNUEK
Yellow Cards: Amnart PAMORNPRASERT 5’, Apirak WORAWONG 22’, Kunawut MAPERM 88’/90+3’
Red Cards: KUNAWUT MAPERM 90+3’
Qantas Joeys line up: 1.Jordan THURTELL (gk), 2.Mark OCHIENG, 3.Aaron CALVER, 4.Benjamin WARLAND, 5.Darcy MADDEN, 7.Daniel De SILVA, 8.Kevin LY, 10.Hyuga TANNER (19.Lukas STERGIOU 90+3’), 11.Taylor TOMBIDES, 17.Joshua MACDONALD (21.Conor O'NEILL 46’), 20.Stephen O'NEILL(29.Todd NORRIS 74’)
Substitutes not used: 6.Jordan BROWN, 12.Andre JANNESE (gk), 13.Reece PAPADIMITRIOS, 14.Brendan GONANO, 18.Thomas MANOS, 22.Zackary NICOLIS, 24.James BALDACCHINO, 25.Ross MILLARD, 42.Billy HATZINIKOLIS
Yellow Cards: Aaron CALVER 49’, Mark OCHIENG 61’.
Red Cards: Nil
AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers – Groups
GROUP A: Iraq, IR Iran, Bangladesh, Qatar, Palestine
GROUP B: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives
GROUP C: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, India
GROUP D: Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Lebanon
GROUP E:, DPR Korea, China PR., Timor Leste, Singapore, Malaysia
GROUP F: Japan, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Laos, Korea Republic, Cambodia
GROUP G: Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Guam
Not good at all.
