Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net four times as the Joeys produced a merciless performance to rout Northern Mariana Islands 23-0 in their AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2023 qualifier.
Irankunda became a walking highlight reel in the Isuzu UTE A-League last season, with Adelaide United’s teenage sensation scoring three goals in just 200 minutes of action.
As Adelaide prepare for their opening A-League Men fixture away to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, the 16-year-old forward is on international duty with the Joeys.
Only top spot in Group G will secure a place at next year’s AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Kuwait, where the five highest-ranked second-placed nations will join.
And Irankunda was in red-hot form in Shepparton, where Australia’s U17 side put Northern Mariana Islands to the sword in their opening qualifying fixture on Wednesday night.
In a man-of-the-match performance, Irankunda bagged his hat-trick before half-time in regional Victoria, with the teenager completing his three-goal haul by the 38th minute.
Irankunda added a fourth inside the final 19 minutes, while Sydney FC’s Mitchell Glasson also scored four goals in the demolition.
There was a hat-trick for Western Sydney Wanderers attacker Max Hately as Central Coast Mariners midfielder Miguel Di Pizio netted twice.
Sydney midfielder Tiago Quintal and Melbourne City defender Petar Antoniou were also on target, while Perth Glory midfielder Jaylan Pearman, Mariners defender Andre Parkes, Glory defender Adriano Lebib and Central Coast’s Campbell Dovison were among the goals, to go with an 89th-minute own goal.
Image source: Football Australia
