Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ho Chi Minh City: Australia bounced back from their 2-1 loss to Uzbekistan with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Vietnam on Tuesday as both sides continued their preparations for the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship at the four-team AFF U19 Tournament in Vietnam.
Goalkeeper Paul Izzo started in place of Nick Munro and and the Adelaide United youngster produced some fine saves from striker Nguyen Xuan Nam and skipper Que Ngoc Hai as Vietnam applied the early pressure.
Ryan Edwards put Australia 1-0 up in the 31st minute before Izzo's Adelaide United team-mate Jake Barker-Daish got his name on the scoresheet eight minutes into the second-half.
Jesse Makarounas capitalized on a defensive error to make it 3-0four minutes later with an 86th minute own-goal from Vietnam defender Dao Duy Khanh completing the home team's misery.
The tournament resumes on Thursday when Australia takes on undefeated Iran, who made it two-wins-out-of-two with 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan, and hosts Vietnam face the Uzbeks in what is a precursor to their meeting at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship on November 4.
The Uzbeks and Vietnam have be drawn together in Group C alongside Jordan and reigning champions DPR Korea while Australia, who finished runners-up to the North Koreans after going down 3-2 in the 2010 final, are in Group D with 2006 champions Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Syria.
Iran have been pooled with hosts UAE, Japan and Kuwait.