The Subway Joeys have produced a 12-0 scoreline against Timor-Leste with the side securing a semi-final berth as Group C winners in the ASEAN U16 Boys Championship in Indonesia.
Coach Brad Maloney made nine changes to the side that defeated Malaysia on Wednesday with Alex Garbowski given the captain's armband for the first time in the tournament due to the suspension of Jayden Necovski following two yellow cards in the first two matches.
Heading into the tie, three points was not going to be enough to ensure progression, with the Joeys requiring a winning margin of over six goals against Timor-Leste or hope that group rivals Thailand drop points to Malaysia in the corresponding fixture.
Australia could not have gotten off to a better start, with James Houridis and Anthony Didulica nabbing the side's first two goals within ten minutes, both from a cross and both finished expertly.
A. Houridis would grab his second in the 23rd minute, with the U16s finishing the first stanza with the half of the required goals now scored.
The second half began with a flurry with the coaching staff rewarded for a triple substitution made at the break, with Nickolas Alfaro, Quinn Macnicol scoring within five minutes of being introduced, while Jordan Graoroski scored off the bench shortly after, in the 54th minute.
Despite having already accrued the required six goals to qualify, the Joeys' intensity never wavered. Macnicol scored two more in the 58th and 63rd, completing a 18-minute hat-trick off the substitutes bench, before finishing off his 4th goal a few minutes before full-time.
Macnicol would be joined by compatriot Didulica on four goals, rounding off a comprehensive end to Australia's Group C campaign.
Next up for the Subway Joeys is a clash with hosts Indonesia in the semi-finals, with the match taking place on Monday 1st July at 10:30pm AEST.
Timor-Leste: 0
Australia: 12 (James Houridis (6' 23'), Anthony Didulica (8' 57' 78' 80'), Nickolas Alfaro (47'), Quinn Macnicol (51' 58' 63' 89'), Jordan Graoroski (54'))
Date: Saturday 29th June 2024
Venue: Sriwedari Stadium, Surakarta, Indonesia
Australia: 1. Jai Ajanovic (GK), 3. Charlie Parkin, 8. Haine Eames, 13. Besian Kutleshi, 14. Alex Garbowski (C) (7. Noah Slunjski 63'), 15. Marco Santangelo, 16. James Houridis (22. Quinn Macnicol 46'), 17. Alexander Houridis (10. Nickolas Alfaro 46'), 20. Anthony Didulica, 21. Rhys Williams (9. Jordan Graoroski 53'), 23. David Bolongi (11. Amlani Tatu 46')
Unused Substitutes: 12. Jonty Benfield (GK), 18. Noah Ellul (GK), 2. Malual Nichola, 5. Christian Pullella, 6. Alex Bolton, 19. Jay Maltz