The Subway Olyroos kicked off their Pacific tour with a 3-0 win over Vanuatu’s senior team thanks to goals from Nathanael Blair, Clayton Taylor and Matthew Grimaldi.
An all-A-Leagues squad is overseas for the PacificAus Sports Football Series in Port Vila, where Australia’s Under-23 side made a winning start on Thursday.
Perth Glory recruit Blair opened the scoring in the 37th minute and Newcastle Jets star Taylor doubled the lead in the 62nd minute before Western United’s Grimaldi came off the bench to make it 3-0 with 16 minutes remaining.
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Patrick Beach (Melbourne City), Kasey Bos (Melbourne Victory), Jed Drew (Macarthur FC), Ethan Alagich (Adelaide United), Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC), Taylor, Hayden Matthews (Sydney FC), Blair, Nathan Paull (Central Coast Mariners), Panashe Madanha (Adelaide United) and Oscar Priestman (Western Sydney Wanderers) all started for the Subway Olyroos.
Meanwhile, Ethan Cox (Adelaide United), Abel Walatee (Western United), Jordi Valadon (Melbourne Victory), Justin Vidic (Newcastle Jets), Rhys Bozinovski (Western United) and Grimaldi also came off the bench for Tony Vidmar’s men, who are beginning to prepare for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.
Blair swapped Western Sydney Wanderers for David Zdrilic’s new-look Glory this off-season and the 20-year-old has impressed in Western Australia, where he scored three goals in the 2024 Australia Cup.
After Vanuatu almost stunned the Aussies and Alagich rattled the crossbar, Blair converted his own rebound to break the deadlock just past the half-hour mark.
Macarthur’s Drew nearly made it 2-0 heading into half-time as his free-kick cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.
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Drew then set up Taylor in the second half as the Jets attacker glanced his header into the back of the net.
The Olyroos’ third goal was made at Western United – Walatee won the ball in midfield for Bozinovski to play in Grimaldi, who rolled the ball into the back of the net.
“They were a pretty tough and resilient opponent,” said Vidmar after the game, with Australia to play Vanuatu on Sunday.
“The players had the belief and that trust in themselves that the longer the game went, we would create chances, and that’s what we did.
“From the starting XI, nine players debuted for the U23s, and then another three [debutants] came in from the bench, so it was excellent exposure for them.”
Featured image: Football Australia
