Sydney FC young gun Paul Okon-Engstler made history for the CommBank Young Socceroos in their narrow 1-0 loss to Italy at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Australia succumbed to a 10th-minute penalty in the country’s World Cup opener in Chile on Monday (AEST), with the Young Socceroos left to lament missed opportunities against the Italians.
Okon-Engstler, meanwhile, followed in the footsteps of his father and current Socceroos assistant Paul, who represented Australia in their fourth-place finish at the 1991 U20 World Cup in Portugal.
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They became the first father-son duo to play for Australia at the FIFA U20 World Cup after the Sydney FC recruit started at the Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander.
Okon-Engstler was not the only Isuzu UTE A-League-based talent in the starting XI for the AFC U20 Asian Cup champions, who ended a 12-year wait for World Cup qualification.
Melbourne Victory loanee and captain Sebastian Esposito was in the line-up, along with Adelaide United sensation Panagiotis Kikianis and Reds team-mates Luka Jovanovic and Fabian Talladira, Sydney FC’s Rhys Youlley, Victory full-back Joshua Inserra and Newcastle Jets signing Alexander Badolato.
A-Leagues alumni Steven Hall, Daniel Bennie and Musa Toure were also in the starting XI, while Melbourne City striker Max Caputo, Sydney talent Tiago Quintal and Jonny Yull of Adelaide came off the bench.
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Jovanovic, who is looking to fill the void left by Golden Boot winner Archie Goodwin at Adelaide United, had a couple of chances in the first half – denied by the Italy goalkeeper before seeing an attempt go wide of the post, while Bennie sliced an effort wide prior to half-time.
The Young Socceroos had a great chance to equalise just past the hour-mark but they could not bundle the ball over the line.
Next up for Australia is a blockbuster clash against international juggernauts Argentina on Thursday (AEST).
Featured image: Football Australia
