A stoppage-time goal from Macarthur Bulls star Kealey Adamson guided the A-Leagues-inspired Subway Olyroos to a dramatic 2-1 victory against Croatia in their Doha International Under-23 Cup opener.
Of the 23-player squad in Qatar for the U23 tournament, 22 are from the Isuzu UTE A-League and 10 were in the starting XI against storied European nation Croatian, while two were on target on Thursday (AEDT).
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Adamson struck in the 91st minute to see Tony Vidmar’s Australia U23 side make a winning start after a breakthrough goal from Adelaide United’s Yaya Dukuly was cancelled out in the second half.
The Olyroos’ starting XI was stacked with A-Leagues talents – former Macarthur star Jed Drew (now playing in Austria) – was the only overseas-based player in the line-up.
ACADEMY FOCUS: Germany international’s vision for youth football amid global ‘trend’ in A-Leagues
Anthony Pavlesic (Central Coast Mariners), Adamson, Josh Rawlins (Melbourne Victory), Kane Vidmar (Western United), Jordi Valadon (Melbourne Victory), Nathanael Blair (Perth Glory), Dukuly, Ethan Alagich (Adelaide United), Nathan Paull (Central Coast Mariners) and Oscar Priestman (Western Sydney Wanderers).
WONDERKID WATCH: 18-year-old’s unforgettable Melbourne Victory debut written in the stars
YOUTH INTERVIEW: Secrets of ‘Australia’s No. 1 junior academy’ with 14 players in the A-Leagues this season
Sydney FC sensation Adrian Segecic, Western United duo Matthew Grimaldi and Rhys Bozinovski, Melbourne Victory’s Jing Reec and Aydan Hammond of Western Sydney Wanderers also came off the bench.
They went up against a country, who have produced the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Davor Suker, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic, Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Mario Mandzukic and countless others, having also reached the final of the 2018 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
| Total A-Leagues Ep.20Australia’s opponents on Thursday also boasted players playing for the some of the best teams and biggest leagues in the world – from Bayern Munich youngster Lovro Zvonarek, FC Basel winger Marin Soticek, former Bayern centre-back now playing for Watford Antonio Tikvic, Hajduk Split’s Luka Vuskovic (on loan with Socceroo Jordy Bos at Westerlo in Belgium) and Dinamo Zagreb’s Vito Caic.
Next up for the Olyroos is a showdown with the UAE on Sunday (AEDT).
