Brisbane Roar teenager Quinn MacNicol made a devastating impact off the bench, while Western United’s Anthony Didulica also had a game to remember in the Subway Joeys’ 12-0 humbling of Timor-Leste at the ASEAN U16 Boys’ Championship.
MacNicol scored four goals, including a 12-minute hat-trick, as Didulica also celebrated a four-goal haul for Australia, who reached the semi-finals after winning Group C.
The Subway Joeys will face hosts Indonesia in the semi-finals on Monday.
There were nine A-Leagues prospects in the starting XI on Saturday – Jai Ajanovic (Central Coast Mariners), Charlie Parkin (Brisbane Roar), Haine Eames (Central Coast Mariners), Besian Kutleshi (Melbourne City), Marco Santangelo (Sydney FC), James Houridis (Melbourne Victory), Alexander Houridis (Melbourne Victory), Rhys Williams (Brisbane Roar) and Didulica, while MacNicol, Nickolas Alfaro (Sydney FC) and Amlani Tatu (Adelaide United) came off the bench.
Australia – two-time winners of the tournament, with their last triumph in 2016 – raced out to a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes thanks to Victory’s James Houridis and Didulica.
James Houridis finished the first half with a brace as the Subway Joeys took a 3-0 lead into the interval.
Australia were merciless in the second 45 minutes, adding another nine goals.
MacNicol – the 16-year-old, who became the youngest ever scorer in the 2023 Australia Cup and the third youngest to debut in the Isuzu UTE A-League, struck within five minutes of his introduction. As did Alfaro.
Jordan Graoroski was on target for the Subway Joeys but it was MacNicol and Didulica, who stole the show, scoring another three goals apiece to clinch a huge victory.
