Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kunshan: George Blackwood scored twice as Australia weathered a determined second-half performance from Syria to begin their Group D challenge at the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 with a 3-1 win on Thursday.
Blackwood opened the scoring for Ante Milicic’s team and claimed the decisive third to give the Australians a winning start after Bruce Kamau had also scored for the Olyroos and Thomas Deng’s own goal had given the Syrians hope of a comeback early in the second half.
Victory puts the Australians in a strong position in the group ahead of their second game on Sunday, when they will face Vietnam and a win against the Southeast Asian nation could secure them a place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
The Olyroos made an immediate impression in the opening exchanges and, by the eighth minute, Milicic’s team were in front.
Deng’s well-weighted pass out of defence released Daniel da Silva into the space behind the Syrian backline and he rolled the ball into the feet of Blackwood, who scored a goal of beautiful simplicity.
Blackwood could have doubled his side’s advantage six minutes later when da Silva released him in on goal, only for the Adelaide United striker to hit the side netting.
