Australia’s under-17 Young Socceroos have scored an equalizer in the dying minutes of their second match at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival to draw with Japan 3-3.

With less than two minutes of injury time remaining, a scrambling Japanese defence allowed attacker Marco Jesic from Australia to edge his way past the keeper and slide the ball across the goal to even up the match.

Substitute striker Tahj Minniecon helped set up the goal and was ecstatic that his team was saved from a second loss in the tournament after being defeated by Korea on Wednesday.

“I can’t explaining the feeling, it was nuts, it was crazy. It was just relief really after not scoring in the first [game]. It was a relief that we got a point out of it,” he said.

Japan kept the Aussies on their toes the entire game, responding quickly to Australia’s tactics in attack and defence.

Forwards Horishi Kiyotake and Tsubasa Yokotake took every opportunity they could to score, both contributing to Japan’s first two goals.

Australian coach Stephen O’Connor expected a tough game against the Japanese who had always been a major threat.

“They’re a good side Japan, their movement and their quality on the ball. We knew it was going to be tough ... but we battled away, in true Aussie style.

“I think we deserved a draw in the end. We had some good chances we missed … there’s still a lot of work to do technically with the lads,” O’Connor said.

The young Aussie stars were cheered on by hundreds of supporters including Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates, Football Federation Australia’s Head of High Performance John Boultbee, former Socceroo Craig Foster, and Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque.

Korea shared in the excitement after easily winning their second match 8-0 against China earlier in the evening.

 Korea secured the game by half-time, having scored six unanswered goals before the break. Forward Chun Suk Bae managed a hat-trick, while team mates Joo Soo Choi, Sung Hwan Ju, Yong Joon Lee and Suk Young Yun each scoring a goal.

Korea now move to the top of the table in the boy’s competition on six points, followed by Japan on four points, Australia third with on one point, and China on zero.

Japan and Korea will play each other on Saturday afternoon with the winner to take out the gold medal. Australia will then battle it out with China later in the evening to contest the bronze.

Roje Adaimy
AYOF