The Peninsula
Australia overcame a poor start to hand Qatar a 9-1 defeat in their Group B encounter at Tashkent’s JAR Stadium yesterday as Trevor Morgan’s side advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023.
Moustafa Asar capitalised on a defensive error to give Qatar a second minute lead but Hassan Al Ghareeb’s own goal was followed by efforts from Chris Donnell, Raphael Rodrigues and Bernardo Oliveira as the Young Socceroos opened a three-goal cushion by halftime.
Oliveira added a fifth midway through the second half before further strikes from Jonny Yull, Gabriel Popovic, Archie Goodwin and Alex Badolato, the result ensuring the Australians second place in Group B behind Islamic Republic of Iran and they will face the Group A winners in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
It had all looked so different in the second minute as Qatar went in front when Asar bundled the ball over the line after Nectarios Triantis’ under-hit back-pass to goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky, but the lead was only to last 11 minutes as Australia struck back.
Alessandro Lopane found Rodrigues in space down the Australia right and his low centre was directed into his own net by Al Ghareeb.
Eight minutes later the Australians were in front. The Qatar defence only half-cleared a corner and, after Lopane’s initial strike was saved by Amir Hassan Katoul, Donnell pounced on the rebound.
Four minutes later the Australians had doubled their lead, Oliveira outpacing the Qatar defence on the left and delivering a perfectly weighted pass to the far post for Rodrigues to slide in and score.
Australia continued to be ruthless and, six minutes before the break, Morgan’s side added a fourth when Gabriel Popovic’s initial effort was blocked by Katoul but Oliveira tapped in from inside the six-yard box.
Rattled by their first half performance, Qatar come out for the second 45 minutes looking for a way back into the game. Ahmed Al Rawi shot was off target and Mubarak Shanan’s effort was blocked as Inaki Abadia’s side showed greater intent.
But the Australians erased any doubts over the outcome by adding a fifth in the 67th minute when Oliveira, who had been so effective throughout, latched onto substitute Jed Drew’s through ball into the area before rounding Katoul to slot in.
Yull rolled in the sixth with 14 minutes remaining and, while Popovic saw his penalty saved by Katoul after the goalkeeper had fouled Goodwin, the NK Rudes striker found the net moments later when he tapped in from close range following Goodwin’s centre from the right.
Goodwin added the eighth in the final minute when he burst through from midfield, scoring at the second attempt after Katoul blocked his initial attempt, and Badolato completed the rout in injury time.