The Subway Joeys maintained their strong form in AFC Under-17 Asian Cup qualifying courtesy of a 3-1 victory over hosts Kuwait on Saturday (AEDT).
Australia’s second consecutive win was fuelled by a trio of Isuzu UTE A-League prospects – Adelaide United young gun Amlani Tatu and Brisbane Roar duo Quinn Macnicol and Charlie Parkin, who were all on target.
After crushing Northern Mariana Islands 19-0, the Joeys preserved their 100% record at Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium, where Tatu opened the scoring.
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Tatu – who signed a scholarship deal in the off-season – scored twice in the opening match and the 16-year-old Adelaide talent broke the deadlock in the 21st minute against Kuwait.
In a hard-fought battle, Brisbane defender Parkin made it 2-0 with five minutes of regulation remaining in Mishref.
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Joeys captain Macnicol then sealed the deal in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Brad Maloney’s Australia look ahead to a top-of-the-table showdown against Indonesia on Monday (AEDT).
Against Kuwait, there were eight A-Leagues prospects in the starting XI – headlined by Macnicol and including Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Jai Ajanovic, 15-year-old Western United defender Besian Kutleshi and teammate Anthony Didulica, Sydney’s Nickolas Alfaro, Tatu of Adelaide, Sydney’s Jay Maltz and Brisbane’s Charlie Parkin.
Perth Glory pair Max Naylor and Christian Pullella, and Rhys Williams of Brisbane also came off the bench.
Featured Image: Football Australia
