A stunning 30-metre strike from Josh Brillante was not enough to prevent the Young Socceroos losing 2-1 to El Salvador.
A stunning 30-metre strike from Newcastle Jets midfielder Josh Brillante was not enough to prevent the Young Socceroos losing 2-1 to El Salvador in their FIFA U-20 World Cup match overnight.
CLICK HERE to see highlights from the match, including Josh Brillante’s wonder-goal.
Brillante was one of four Newcastle Jets players, alongside Connor Chapman, Andrew Hoole and Adam Taggart, who started the match for Australia.
Brilliante looked to have laid the foundation for another dominant Australian display with a super goal from distance on nine minutes, only for Diego Coca and Jose Pena to respond for El Salvador before the break, securing the win for the Central Americans.
Though Australia were dominant in possession and willing in attack, a tenacious and worthy opponent would ultimately deny them at least a share of the spoils.
The loss means Australia’s chance at qualification to the knockout stages will largely depend on a win against hosts Turkey in their final Group C clash on Friday (Saturday morning AEST).
Brillante’s sublime drive from some 30 metres opened the scoring early on.
The Newcastle Jets midfielder – one of Australia’s best three days ago against Colombia – made his presence felt from the outset on this occasion and was rewarded with one of the goals of the tournament to date.
The Young Socceroos were stopped in their tracks upon Coca’s equaliser and further stunned when Pena gave El Salvador the lead close to the break.
The fluid, dominant performance of days ago against Colombia hadn’t disappeared entirely, but had certainly eroded somewhat against the challenge of a lively El Salvadoran outfit that deserved its half time lead.
Prolific qualification goal scorer Corey Gameiro was one of three attacking substitutes introduced by Head Coach Paul Okon after the break as Australia pushed for a result.
El Salvador’s back line would prove resilient – the Young Socceroos struggling to deliver the same decisiveness in the final third that was most evident three days earlier.
The Young Socceroos will tackle hosts Turkey in their final Group C match at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Trabzon’s Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium on Friday, June 28 at 9pm local time (Saturday, 29 June 4am AEST).
Australia 1 (Brillante 9′)
El Salvador 2 (Coca 17′, Pena 40′)
Yeni Sehir Stadium, Rize
Australia 1. Paul Izzo (gk), 2. Josh Brillante, 3. Connor Chapman, 4. Curtis Good, 5. Scott Galloway, 6. Jackson Irvine (10. Corey Gameiro 83′), 9. Adam Taggart, 11. Connor Pain, 15. Jason Geria, 17. Andrew Hoole (7. Ryan Williams 80′), 20. Daniel De Silva (14. Jamie Maclaren 67′)
Substitutes 8. Hagi Gligor, 12. Jack Duncan (gk), 13. Reece Caira, 16. David Vrankovic, 18. James Donachie, 19. Ryan Edwards, 21. Anthony Bouzanis (gk)
Yellow Cards Chapman 13′
Red Cards None
El Salvador 1. Rolando Morales (gk), 2. Olivier Ayala, 3. Tomas Granitto, 6. Marvin Baumgartner, 7. Jairo Henriquez, 9. Jose Pena (20. Roberto Gonzalez 83′), 10. Diego Coca (11. Maikon Orellana 74′), 12. Kevin Barahona (4. Giovanni Zavaleta 90-+2), 13. Miguel Ochoa, 15. Rene Gomez, 17. Kevin Mendoza
Substitutes 5. Romilio Hernandez, 8. Jose Villavicencio, 14. Oscar Rodriguez, 16. Benjamin Diaz, 18. Adolfo Menendez, 19. Bernardo Majano, 21. Carlos Canas
Yellow Cards Olivier 86-, Gomez 87-
Red Cards None
Referee Stephane Lannoy (France)
