The FIFA U-20 World Cup dreams of four Jets players have ended following a 2-1 loss to Turkey on Saturday morning.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup dreams of Newcastle Jets players Josh Brillante, Connor Chapman, Andrew Hoole and Adam Taggart have come to an end following a 2-1 loss to hosts Turkey in Trabzon on Saturday morning.
Needing a win to progress to the knockout stages, Australia showed moments of real quality, though Jamie Maclaren-s opener would ultimately be cancelled out by responses from Hakan Calhanoglu and Okay Yokuslu.
Brillante, Chapman and Taggart all started the match and played 90 minutes, while Hoole made a 20-minute cameo off the bench.
Throughout a performance closer to their opener against Colombia than their loss to El Salvador, the Young Socceroos controlled the glut of play only to be undone by two exceptional moments.
Yokuslu-s late winner will be hard to beat for goal of the tournament and was the dagger blow to a spirited Australian side that, at the final whistle, could only reflect upon a tournament of noteworthy positives overshadowed by occasional, crucial, lapses.
The first half saw Australia inch their way into the game after a nervy start.
Though the hosts struggled to create any clear-cut chances, they enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges before the Young Socceroos found their rhythm in due time.
Leading the charge in his first start of the tournament was Maclaren – his cut back for fellow first time starter Ryan Williams presenting the Fulham flyer with the first decent chance of the encounter.
Another new face, Corey Gameiro, should have put Australia up after being delightfully played through on goal by a backheel from Adam Taggart – his first time effort skewing just wide of goal.
The second half began in explosive fashion, captain Jackson Irvine upended within seconds before defender Scott Galloway was forced from the field with an innocuous, but clearly debilitating, ankle injury.
The injury meant Brillante was shifted from central midfield to right-back for the remainder of the match, showcasing his impressive versatility.
Moments later, Maclaren had netted the opener – a fine finish on the back of a sweeping attacking movement that was completed with a precise delivery from Williams.
With a place in the Round of 16 now within sight, Australia were on the back foot almost immediately when Calhanoglu equalised within two minutes with an excellent drive from distance.
The introduction of teenage sensation Daniel De Silva and later wide players Andrew Hoole and Connor Pain ensured the Young Socceroos would be pushing for a winner until the final whistle.
However, when Turkish substitute Yokuslu produced a truly world class chip from some twenty metres with only minutes to play, Australia-s fate was sealed at the expense of Turkey-s progression to the knockout stages.
Australia 1 (Maclaren 53-)
Turkey 2 (Calhanoglu 55-, Yokuslu 87-)
Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium, Trabzon
Australia 1. Paul Izzo (gk), 2. Josh Brillante, 3. Connor Chapman, 5. Scott Galloway (20. Daniel De Silva 50-), 6. Jackson Irvine, 7. Ryan Williams (17. Andrew Hoole 71-), 9. Adam Taggart, 10. Corey Gameiro, 14. Jamie Maclaren (11. Connor Pain 85-), 15. Jason Geria, 18. James Donachie
Substitutes 4. Curtis Good, 8. Hagi Gligor, 12. Jack Duncan (gk), 13. Reece Caira, 16. David Vrankovic, 19. Ryan Edwards, 21. Anthony Bouzanis (gk)
Yellow Cards Gameiro 83-
Red Cards None
Turkey 1. Aykut Ozer (gk), 3. Ilkay Durmus, 4. Hakan Cinemre, 6. Salih Ucan (8. Okay Yokuslu 46-), 9. Artun Akcakin (19. Ibrahim Yilmaz 46-), 10. Hakan Calhanoglu, 13. Cenk Sahin (11. Halil Akbunar 73-), 16. Alpaslan Ozturk, 17. Ethem Pulgir, 20. Fatih Turan, 21. Kerim Koyunlu
Substitutes 2. Sadik Ciftpinar, 5. Ahmet Calik, 7. Taskin Calis, 12. Alperen Uysal (gk), 14. Sinan Bakis, 15. Cumali Bisi, 18. Onurcan Piri (gk)
Yellow Cards Yilmaz 46-
Red Cards None
Referee Roberto Garcia (Mexico)
