Young Socceroos get spanked in AFC Semi against UAE
UNITED Arab Emirates have crushed Australia 3-0 in the AFC Under-19 Championship Semi-Finals at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahad Stadium on Tuesday.
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Pim spoiled for choice
Australia coach Pim Verbeek believes he is spoilt for choice when it comes to strikers for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Verbeek’s team heads to Manama for next Thursday’s clash with a perfect record in the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with six points from two games.
Such is Verbeek’s confidence that he believes any one of the five attackers he has chosen in the 24-man squad for next week’s game – Scott McDonald, Josh Kennedy, Bruce Djite, Brett Holman and Tim Cahill – are capable of doing the job for their country.
Kennedy and McDonald appear to be Verbeek’s preferred combination up front and he recently watched both in action and was pleased with what he saw.
“Both are doing well,” he said.
“I watched Scott last week when he played for Celtic against Hearts and then I was with Josh last Saturday when he played for Karlsruhe (in Germany),” Verbeek said.
“And Timmy (Cahill) is playing 90 minutes (for Everton) and Brett Holman is in a very good team (Dutch club AZ Alkmaar) which is doing well and (Bruce) Djite is always playing and scoring (in Turkey) so we have five good strikers and that’s not even including the strikers I have on the standby list (such as A-League pair Matt Simon and Archie Thompson).”
“So for the future I am not worried at all (about the depth of Australia’s strikers).”
Verbeek is also closely monitoring Australia’s goalkeeping talent knowing that after the next World Cup he will have to find a successor to the Socceroos’ long-term custodian Mark Schwarzer.
With that in mind uncapped Adam Federici has been included alongside Schwarzer and Michael Petkovic in the 24-man squad for the trip to Bahrain.
Verbeek says he has been impressed by the recent form of Olyroos keeper Federici since he moved to English League One club Southend on loan from English Championship club Reading.
“He had a good Olympics and we know his qualities,” Verbeek said of Federici.
“His problems were that he was not playing at a high level but he is playing regularly now for Southend and he is doing very well.”
“So we have three goalkeepers (in the squad) and the more we have the better.”
Socceroos squad announced for Bahrain WCQ
Socceroos Head Coach Pim Verbeek has selected 24 players in his squad for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier Round 4 match against Bahrain in Manama on Wednesday November 19, 2008.
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Aussie McDonald scores wonder-chip against Man Utd
SOCCEROO striker Scott McDonald scored a wonder goal in this morning’s Champions League group clash against English heavyweights, Manchester United.His 13th minute chest down and chip from an angle put Celtic on course for what was to be a 1-1 draw thanks to a late Giggs strike with just 6 minutes to play in the match.
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Kewell does it again….yet another injury
Harry Kewell has copped a hairline toe fracture in his last match against Gaziantepspor and will now be ruled out for Gala’s important UEFA Cup clash against Benfica in Lisbon.
Kewell will be missed as the ex-Liverpool player has been in fine form this season with goals galore.Things might not be as bad as first thought as Galatasaray manager Michael Skibbe is hoping Kewell will be able to play against fierce rivals Fenerbahce in their next club match.
Harry Kewell wins it for Gala in UEFA cup – see the goal here!
HARRY Kewell scored with a glancing header in the 25th-minute to give Galatasaray a 1-0 win over Greek rivals Olympiakos in this morning’s UEFA Cup group match in Istanbul.
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Matildas clinch ASEAN title
Australia have triumphed in the Final of the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championships held in Ho Chi Minh City, with a 1-nil defeat over host nation, Vietnam.
The only goal of the game came in the 80th minute with an own goal scored off a corner.
“I thought we were well in control for most of the game,” said Matildas coach, Tom Sermanni.
“But all credit to the Vietnam team. They had numbers behind the ball, defended well and were lively on the counter attack.
“We’re delighted to have the win in what is an important regional tournament.” Sermanni said.
Match Details
AFF Women’s Championship 2008 – FINAL
Vietnam v Australia
October 20
6pm local, 10.00pm AEDT
Thanh Long Sports Complex, Vietnam
VIETNAM 0-1 AUSTRALIA
Matilda’s starting line-up: Lydia Williams (gk), Kim Carroll (c), Brooke Spence, Lyndsay Glohe, Ashleigh Sykes, Christine Walters (Victoria Balomenos 46′), Ella Mastrantonio, Yesim Servet Uzunlar (Renee Rollason 80′ approx), Lauren Colthorpe, Tameka Butt, Jenna Tristram (Leena Khamis 56′)
SUBS NOT USED: Renee Rollason, Melissa Barbieri (gk)
UNAVAILABLE: Elise Kellond-Knight (injured), Clare Polkinghorne (suspended), Amy Chapman (suspended)
Matildas into ASEAN Championship final
The Matildas advanced to the final of the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championships tonight with a 5-1 victory over Myanmar (Burma) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The result comes at a cost with Clare Polkinghorne and Amy Chapman suspended for tomorrow’s title decider against the host nation.
The Matildas had the perfect start when Chapman opened the scoring in the third minute after the Myanmar keeper had fumbled the ball.
Australia’s second goal came at the 19 minute mark when Ella Mastrantonio placed the ball well behind the defence for Yesim Servet Uzunlar to strike from 10 metres out.
After 27 minutes a penalty was awarded to the Matilda’s after Jenna Tristram was brought down. Lauren Colthorpe duly converted low to the right post.
Tristram scored Australia’s fourth goal just before half time thanks to clever build-up play by Kim Carroll and Colthorpe.
Elise Kellond-Knight won a second penalty for Australia after 65 minutes, which was converted by Carroll, but resulted in an ankle injury for Kellond-Knight.
On the 72nd minute mark Australia was down to 10 women when Polkinghorne was shown her second yellow card – this time in the penalty box – and Myanmar converted a penalty of their own.
Five minutes later Chapman was sent off for a second yellow, but the nine-player Matilda’s still held on for the win.
Australia meet Vietnam in the Final of the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championships at 6pm local (10pm AEDT) on Monday October 20.
Socceroos crush Qatar 4-0
AUSTRALIA have demolished World Cup pretenders Qatar 4-0 for their second World Cup qualifying win in as many games tonight in Brisbane.
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Socceroos must forget past and focus on the future
The Socceroos have already beaten Qatar twice along the 2010 World Cup qualification path, but those results mean nothing now.
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