A-League young guns inspire Young Socceroos at U19 tournament

The Subway Young Socceroos cruised a 6-0 win over Laos in their ASEAN Under-19 Boys’ Championship opener in Indonesia, where some of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s brightest talents starred.

Western Sydney Wanderers’ Marcus Younis, Western United forward Jake Najdovski and Melbourne City sensation Arion Sulemani scored two goals apiece to fuel the Subway Young Socceroos in their opening Group B fixture on Thursday.

The Subway Young Socceroos – featuring an all-A-Leagues-based squad – are out to win the tournament formerly known as the AFF Championship for a sixth time, having done so previously in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2019, while they will look to triumph on the back of the Subway Joeys claiming the U16 event earlier this month.

LOCKED IN! Dates announced for 2024-25 A-Leagues season
UNITE ROUND LAUNCHED FOR 2024-25: Everything you need to know
UNITE ROUND 2024-25: What’s new this season?
FULL FIXTURE: Who your team is up against in Unite Round

Dylan Peraic-Cullen (Central Coast Mariners), Zac De Jesus (Sydney FC), Ryley Hollingdale (Western Sydney Wanderers), Fabian Talladira (Adelaide United), Tiago Quintal (Sydney FC), Tyler Williams (Sydney FC), Adam Bugarija (Perth Glory), Dylan Leonard (Western United), Jesse Hoey (Melbourne Victory), Younis and Sulemani were in the starting XI.

Sulemani set the tone in Indonesia with a quick-fire brace in the first half.

The past year or so has been challenging for highly rated Sulemani but he is back playing and among the goals with City after the 19-year-old suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in February last year.

Sulemani, who signed a three-year deal through to the 2025-26 season in June 2023, had been on the verge of earning his first senior minutes at Isuzu UTE A-League level before his length spell on the sidelines.

WHO TO WATCH: 13 players who could be set for a breakout season in the Isuzu UTE A-League
REMEMBER THESE NAMES: Your guide to the A-Leagues whiz kids who ended Australia’s 5-year drought

Western Sydney and A-Leagues rising star Younis made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.

The attacker has called the Wanderers home since the age of 12 and scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal last season.

Younis completed his double with 12 minutes remaining against Laos before Najdovski came off the bench and scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time and again six minutes later.

Najdovski is a Western United academy graduate who signed a contract extension through to the 2025-26 season.