12 November 99: Joeys Lose Opener To Brazil
The Joeys conceded two goals to defensive errors in losing 2-1 to Brazil in their
opening World U17 Cup match. Australia's McAllister scored the consolation goal late
in the game. Hosts New Zealand also lost 2-1 against the USA in the opening game
which was marred by rain and wind. So much so that the opening ceremony had to be
cut short. Even the America's Cup was called off for the day.
14 November 99: Joeys Rebound Against Germany
As the senior team put on a poor performance by losing 2-0 to Brazil's U23 team in Coach
Farina's first game, the Joeys played well to defeat Germany 2-1 in their second pool
match in New Zealand in the U17 World Cup. The Joeys were 1-0 down at half time, but
managed to take control of the midfield to go ahead with 10 minutes to go. From
there, Germany through everything at Australia but the Aussies managed to hold on.
The final group game is against Mali, which held Brazil to a 0-0 draw, but an Australian
draw will see them through to the next phase. Hosts New Zealand were knocked out of
the tournament after a 5-0 loss to Uruguay.
17 November 99: Joeys Top Group.
The U17 Joeys defeated Mali today 1-0 to go top of the group after Brazil drew
0-0 with Germany. Brazil travels to play Paraguay while Australia will remain in
Christchurch to mot likely play Qatar. USA or Mexico then awaits in the semi
finals. Clearly, Australia has a great chance of getting to the final of this
tournament and will be an ideal swansong for retiring coach Les Sheinflug. This will be
his last tournament after over 20 years with the youth teams.
21 November 99: Joeys Headed For Their Best Ever
Result
After defeating Qatar 1-0 today, Australia are set to take on USA in a semi final
of the U17 World Cup in New Zealand this coming Wednesday. Apparently putting up
their worst performance of the tournament, a 55th minute goal from substitute striker Di
Iroio was enough to see of Qatar in Christchurch today. Their toughest test so far will be
the USA. They are unbeaten in 24 games and have won 20 of them. Beat them, and
Brazil most likely waits as they demolished the previously unbeaten Paraguay 4-1.
The other Oceania country, and hosts, New Zealand, finished of their disappointing
campaign with a win over Poland in their final group game. This was after a 2-1 loss to
USA and 5-0 loss to Uruguay. With NZ running the US so close, Australia is in with
its best chance of making its first World Cup final at any level.
ABC TV will have highlights of the tournament on Saturday afternoons over the next couple of weeks. This weekend they showed the group games and Australia impressed with its tight defence and ability to finish their chances. Classic example was against Germany and Mali where both teams held large periods of domination yet could not penetrate Australia's defence. In fact Mali at 20 shots to 2, most of them long, while Australia was able to pick off on defensive errors and hit quickly.
24 November 99: Can They Go All The Way?
Australia's under-17 team - The Joeys - surpassed the performance of any other
Australian team at any level by reaching the World Cup final. They defeated the USA
on penalties 7-6 after at one stage leading the game at 2-0, but ending the game at 2-2.
Australia will meet Brazil in the final after they overcame a spirited Ghanaian
come-back. They equalised at 2-2 late in the game, but Brazil managed to take in on
penalties, this time 5-4.
Against the USA though, Australia opened the scoring after just 2 minutes when a corner was converted after a goal mouth scramble. From there, they dominated the half to eventually find the net in the 45th minute after Scott MacDonald cut inside in the penalty box, and slotted the ball low and into the corner of the net, after a swift counter attack. But barely a minute later, the USA got one back though their star striker, Donovan, to restore US confidence.
Restore confidence it sure did, as within 5 minutes after the break, USA scored from a corner, and ably assisted by poor Australian marking. Depressing, yes, but they continued to play positively and were the better team for the remainder of the game. In fact, in extra time, they went very close when a point-blank header went over the bar leaving both teams in despair: Australia, because they missed; the US due to the luck of surviving what should have been instant defeat. Coming into the shootout, Australia saved an early attempt, but soon after, penalties were back level when the American goalie saved. The eventual miss came when the US captain - Cutler - skied his shot over the bar and ending the US's dream after an undefeated run of 24 games. Since the win was on penalties, at least they retain that phenomenal record.
Australia and Brazil played in their first pool game with Brazil winning 2-1. On the form of this game, and of how Australia played against tournament favourites, the USA, Australia will be more than competitive. Brazil will be under pressure as they are expected to win. But if Australia maintains their counter attacking game plan and excellent defensive record, expect to see them win 1-0. Catch all the action on ABC TV, Saturday afternoon, at 2.30.
27 November 99: Just A Palm Away From Becoming
World Champions
The amazing run of the pre-tournament 100/1 shots Joeys ended today when they
lost unluckily 8-7 to Brazil in a penalty shootout at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium.
Earlier, the third placed playoff went to Ghana as they defeated the USA 2-0.
The Aussie goalie Van Stratten performed heroics in getting a hand to 4 penalties,
only for them to deflect despairingly into the goal. The final crucial penalty skipped
under Van Stratten despite getting a decent fist on it. Unfortunately it was too fast.
Earlier, one save narrow snuck in at a post. Even the kickers went without luck.
Captain Byrnes' first shot narrowly went wide and Fyfe's final shot was saved onto
a post, but stayed out. Earlier, a Brazillian shot went in off the post.
Van Stratten also performed well during the game as both teams' defences dominated a game that produced very few real goal scoring chances. A wet pitch made it slippery for the players with Brazil content on shooting from long range and hoping for a lucky skid off the ground. Unfortunately for them, Van Stratten saved many potentially difficult chances. Australia meanwhile played the counter attacking game and their only shot on goal in the first half landed at the feet of McAllister after a series of beautiful one-touch passes put him reasonably clear on goal. The shot went straight to the goalie though, as Brazil dominated possession for the rest of the half, but never looked like scoring.
Second half was very similar with Brazil starting out well, but again, restricted to long range attempts. Australia became more adventurous too and endeavoured to get players into more reasonable goal scoring situations, or on the end of good crosses. The substitute Di Iroio certainly helped and was a constant menace with his excellent close in ball skills. Brazil soon got wise and closed him down very quickly with cheating tactics. In fact, Brazil's propensity to dive and grab shirts was a blight on the game, which the referee did not punish enough. One incident saw Eduardo pull down a player who got clear on the wing with nothing more than a free kick given. Whilst he nearly scored an own goal in defending it, the fact that he was already on a yellow card should not have prevented the referee from giving him another and sending him off. And later, a forearm collected McAllister on the head in an attempted punch on him in an aerial due which should have been instant red. He only got yellow.
Anyway, Australia visibly tired half through the half leaving their offence virtually ineffective. Their best moment came when a long throw bobbled about in the box with MacDonald's air-swing giving Brazil alife. And right on full time, Fyfe, who'd just come on, was played into a lovely crossing position, and despite having plenty of time, failed to get a good cross in. For Brazil, Souza was played through twice but Van Stratten was quick off the line to gobble up any attempted strike. His only indiscreation was a clearance that bounced straight off a team-mate and almost into goal.
Into extra time and the status quo remained: Brazil with all the possession and shooting from range while Australia relied on opportunistic counter attacks. The only real chance was Di Iroio's shot that went across the face of goal as he ran onto the end of a long ball. An opportunistic cutback may have been the better option, especially as his tagger initially pulled him by the shirt which forced him out wide and narrowed the angle too much.
So, Australia's best ever performance at a World Cup has come to an end and marks Coach Les Sheinflug's retirement from his role as youth coach. He will move into a role as technical director, and must be applauded for his performance with this team. Especially when you consider the previous Joey's team failed to even qualify for the World Cup and that earlier this year, the Young Socceroos put on an insipid display despite having one of our most highly talented squads ever. His tactics with this team worked a treat, and in the final, they would have the game with some little luck. Some may think that Brazil's possession and more shots on goal made them worthy winners, but in reality, Australia were quite comfortable being in the role they were in and were never really under the threat.
For Australian soccer, it has been a great boost to the game and augurs well for future youth teams. And hopefully the Fifa heavyweights on hand will take note of Oceania's achievement and give them a better deal with senior World Cup qualifying paths. The next big event is the Olympics and wouldn't it be a great achievement if Australia could get their revenge against Brazil by beating them in the final off that tournament?
Qualifying
27 August 99: Joeys Defeat Bahrain To Qualify For U17 World Cup
A single goal was all that was needed to send the Australians through - 3-1 on
aggregate - to the World Cup to be held in New Zealand later this year. This makes
two Oceania representatives in this tournament, the other, the hosts NZ. Louis Brain
scored the first and only goal in the first half to add to the 2-1 win by Australia in
Canberra 2 weeks earlier. A fitting result as Australia demonstrated in that game an
overwhelming superiority with only poor finishing and a sloppy defensive setup on a free
kick to even allowing Bahrain a look in.
Two weeks ago, the Joeys let through a sloppily taken free kick from Bahrain to let them get a handy away-goal while defeating them in Canberra last night. All goals came in the first half, and while technically and tactically much superior, failing to convert the myriad of chances may eventually cost them like it did with the senior team against Iran nearly 2 years ago. The second leg will be played on the 27th with a leadup game against Qatar pencilled in as well.
Round Robin Matches
Group A
10 Nov 99 19:30 AUCKLAND NZL - USA 1:2 (1:0)
11 Nov 99 19:30 AUCKLAND URU - POL 1:1 (0:0)
13 Nov 99 13:45 AUCKLAND NZL - URU 0:5 (0:2)
13 Nov 99 16:00 AUCKLAND USA - POL 1:1 (0:1)
16 Nov 99 18:00 AUCKLAND POL - NZL 1:2 (0:0)
16 Nov 99 20:15 AUCKLAND USA - URU 1:0 (0:0)
Final Table
USA 3 2 1 0 4 2 2 7
Uruguay 3 1 1 1 6 2 4 4
New Zealand 3 1 0 2 3 8 -5 3
Poland 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2
* New Zealand and Poland eliminated
Group C
Nov 99 13:45 CHRISTCHURCH BRA - AUS 2:1 (1:0)
12 Nov 99 16:00 CHRISTCHURCH MLI - GER 0:0
14 Nov 99 16:00 CHRISTCHURCH AUS - GER 2:1 (0:1)
14 Nov 99 18:15 CHRISTCHURCH BRA - MLI 0:0
17 Nov 99 16:00 CHRISTCHURCH GER - BRA 0:0
17 Nov 99 18:15 CHRISTCHURCH AUS - MLI 1:0 (1:0)
Final Table
Australia 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6
Brazil 3 1 2 0 2 1 1 5
Germany 3 0 2 1 1 2 -1 2
Mali 3 0 2 1 0 1 -1 2
*Germany and Mali eliminated
Quarterfinals
20 Nov 99 14:00 AUCKLAND USA - MEX 3:2 (2:1)
20 Nov 99 16:00 NAPIER GHA - URU 3:2 a.e.t. (2:2, 2:1)
21 Nov 99 14:00 CHRISTCHURCH AUS - QAT 1:0 (0:0)
21 Nov 99 16:00 DUNEDIN PAR - BRA 1:4 (1:2)
Semifinals
24 Nov 99 16:00 CHRISTCHURCH USA - AUS 2:2 a.e.t. (2:2, 1:2) 6:7 PSO
24 Nov 99 19:30 AUCKLAND GHA - BRA 2:2 a.e.t. (2:2, 0:2) 2:4 PSO
Match for 3rd place
27 Nov 99 13:15 AUCKLAND USA - GHA 0:2 (0:1)
Final
27 Nov 99 16:00 AUCKLAND AUS - BRA 0:0 a.e.t. 7:8 PSO