The CommBank Young Socceroos have defeated Cuba 3-1 in their final group stage game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025.
Max Caputo scored a brace while Daniel Bennie added his second of the tournament to help Australia to the victory.
The result means that the Young Socceroos finished third in Group D. The team will await results in Group E and F tomorrow to determine if they will advance to the Round of 16 as one of four best third-place teams.
Trevor Morgan made four changes for the must-win clash. Lucas Herrington, Max Caputo, Louis Agosti and Fabian Talladira were given the nod while Rhys Youlley, Musa Toure, Tiago Quintal and Panagiotis Kikianis moved to the bench.
Australia started on the front foot, and were unlucky not to take the lead early. Cuban goalkeeper Yurdy Hodelin first saved from Jaylan Pearman before spectacularly denying a Louis Agosti strike that looked destined to nestle into the top left corner.
Pearman came inches away again when, in the 11th minute, he hit the outside of the post.
The pressure soon told. James Overy played a brilliant ball into the penalty area, where Max Caputo was waiting. The Melbourne City striker timed his run to arrive at the perfect time and completed a tidy finish to open the scoring.
Australia doubled their lead before the half-time break. Cuba failed to clear their lines after a corner, and the ball fell fortuitously to Daniel Bennie. Bennie made no mistake from close range to score his second of the tournament, and the second of the game.
The Young Socceroos didn’t have it all their own way, with Cuba possessing plenty of attacking threat of their own. Steven Hall was forced into a sharp save with his legs when Alessio Raballo was played into space as the half wound down.
Max Caputo made it three just minutes into the second half. Alex Badolato showed dogged determination to reach a ball that looked destined to trickle out of play. His cutback found Caputo, who controlled it well in the penalty area and blasted it into the back of the net.
Australia kept pushing forward, knowing that every goal improved their chances of qualification. That left space in behind for Cuba, who themselves were chasing a win to advance.
Cuba scored their breakthrough after a corner. The Young Socceroos were not able to clear the ball away, and Alessio Raballo got just enough of a touch to see it trickle into the back of the net.
There were a number of golden chances to restore Australia’s three-goal advantage as the game continued to stretch. Musa Toure found himself in space but just had the ball tipped away by a defender, before Luka Jovanovic missed wide moments later.
Hodelin made another fantastic full stretch save in the 80th minute after a long-range strike from Pearman.
In the end, Australia were not able to extend their lead any further, and face an agonising wait to determine their World Cup fate.
Match Summary
Australia U20: 3 (19. Max Caputo 21’, 50’, 2. Daniel Bennie 39’)
Cuba U20: 1 (9. Alessio Raballo 63')
Australia: 1. Steven Hall (GK), 2. Daniel Bennie (10. Rhys Youlley 70’), 3. Sebastian Esposito, 5. Fabian Talladira, 6. Paul Okon-Engstler, 8. Alex Badolato (9. Luka Jovanovic 60’), 13. Lucas Herrington, 15. Jaylan Pearman, 19. Max Caputo (11. Musa Toure 60’), 20. Louis Agosti (14. Tiago Quintal 70’), 21. James Overy
Unused substitutes: 12. Alex Robinson (GK), 18. Daniel Graskoski (GK), 4. Panagiotis Kikianis, 16. Joshua Inserra, 17. Liam Bonetig.
Yellow Cards: 15. Jaylan Pearman 18’
Red Cards
Cuba: 12. Yurdy Hodelin (GK), 2. Elvis Casanova, 4. Camila Pinillo (16. Norlys Chavez 87’), 5. Karel Perez, 6. Diego Catasus, 7. Jade Quinones (10. Michael Camejo 41’), 8. Leandro Mena, 9. Alessio Raballo, 11. Romario Torres, 14. Maikol Vega (13. Didier Reinoso 70’), 15. Marcos Campos (20. Samuel Rodriguez 46’)
Unused substitutes: 1. Yorlan Wilson (GK), 21. Yurixander Zayas (GK), 3. Ricardo Polo, 17. Aniel Casanova, 18. Yordan Castaner, 19. Enmanuel Torres,
Yellow cards: 20. Samuel Rodriguez 66’