First Two Results Leave a Tough Task Against Qatar
Australia’s U-23 men’s football team headed to the U-23 Asian Cup with one thing on their mind, qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. To Achieve this, they had to come in the top three at the tournament, but their results left them very far from that goal.
They began their tournament against Jordan, in a match where they were certainly favoured to snatch three points.
They came out looking like the better side, controlling pace of play and having much of the ball. Both Nicolas Milanovic and Alou Kuol had big chances in the first half but were unable to solve the Jordanian keeper as the two sides went into halftime at 0-0.
The Olyroos were dominant in the half, not allowing Jordan a single shot on target and playing much of the half in the attacking third but failed to get on the scoresheet.
The second half followed a very similar script with the Australian men consistently pressing but unable to find that final touch to give them the lead.
They were given a golden opportunity to break the stalemate when in the 82nd minute Jordan’s Daniel Afaneh was shown a second yellow and was consequently sent off.
However, despite 11 minutes of added time with Jordan on 10 men, the Olyroos were unable to capitalize as the final whistle sounded with a disappointing 0-0 score line.
They faced Indonesia next in what was essentially a must-win to keep their qualifying hopes in their own hands.
Again favoured, the Olyroos had most of the possession in the match but still struggled to find the final ball through. 25 minutes into the match the Olyroos earned a penalty but Mohamed Touré’s attempt was stopped but the Indonesian keeper.
They kept their composure and pressed on, dominating the match. However, it was Indonesia who found the net first thanks to a header just before half-time.
The Olyroos kept pushing in the second half, creating a plethora of scoring opportunities but as was the theme for the tournament, failed to capitalize, and lost the match 1-0.
With just one point from their first two matches, qualification beyond the group stage would be a difficult task.
Australia would have to defeat Qatar and hope Indonesia loses to Jordan.
0-0 Draw with Qatar Not Nearly Enough
In a must win game, the Olyroos again did not play horribly. They pressed Qatar’s back line and created a number of chances but as was the theme all tournament, couldn’t solve the keeper.
They came close to breaking the deadlock before the halftime whistle with a flurry of chances, one which required a great diving save from the Qatari keeper and a header which was sent wide.
They kept pushing in the second half but just couldn’t find the net as the match resulted in a 0-0 draw, and the Olyroos elimination from the tournament.
Olyroos Miss Out on Olympics for Third Time in the Last Four Events
Thanks to their failure to produce a single goal in three matches and claiming just two points from said games, the Olyroos have now failed to qualify for the Olympics for the third time in the last four Games.
Their only Olympic berth came in Tokyo, where they bowed out in the group stage. Indonesia and Qatar progressed from their group into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
