Joeys defeat Myanmar in AFC qualifier

The Qantas Joeys recorded a 4-0 win over Myanmar in their second match of the AFC U-16 Championship qualifier at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok last night.

The Qantas Joeys recorded a 4-0 win over Myanmar in their second match of the AFC U-16 Championship qualifier at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok last night.

Qantas Joeys Captain Ben Warland opened the scoring in the first half with Daniel De Silva getting a double in the second half and Taylor Tombides scoring his second goal of the tournament.

After a disappointing first-up loss to Thailand in their opening match, Qantas Joeys Head Coach Jan Versleijen made three changes to his starting line-up with goalkeeper Andre Jannese replacing Jordan Thurtell and Zackary Nicolis and Billy Hatzinikolis coming in for Mark Ochieng and Josh MacDonald.

The Qantas Joeys started slowly and finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when a Stephen O'Neill cross was met by Ben Warland who out jumped the Myanmar defence to head home from inside the six-yard box.

It took until the 76th minute for the Qantas Joeys to extend their lead after Ben Warland played a long ball from the halfway line in behind the Myanmar defence for Daniel De Silva.

De Silva controlled with his thigh and then hit a well-placed volley home to bottom right corner of the goal giving the Myanmar goalkeeper Soe Arkar no chance of saving.

The third goal came three minutes later following some good build up play by the Qantas Joeys. Hyuga Tanner turned toward the Myanmar defence and played a through ball for Taylor Tombides who then beat the advancing Arkar to the ball and tapped home for his second of the tournament.

The scoring was completed three minutes before time in similar circumstances to the third goal. Tanner again played through a diagonal ball behind the defence for Daniel De Silva on this occasion. De Silva drove home a first time shot to the right hand corner of the goal to notch his second of the match.

Versleijen was much happier with his team's performance, but still believes that his team can get better.

"In the first half we struggled a little bit to find our rhythm, but were able to score a goal from a set piece."

"In the second half they (Myanmar) gave us more time and space on the ball which resulted in some good second half goals."

"We still have a lot of room for improvement and we will look to do this in the match v Hong Kong," concluded Versleijen.

In the other Group G matches Thailand defeated Guam 11-0 and Indonesia defeated Hong Kong 2-0.

The Qantas Joeys will next face Hong Kong on Saturday 17 September (kick-off 3:00pm local, 6.00pm AEST).

During the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers, each group will play one round league and the top two teams from each group will progress to the AFC U-16 Championship 2012.

Additionally, the third-best teams from each West and East zones will complete the 16-team line up of the 2012 finals.

The AFC U-16 Championship will serve as the qualifying event for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in October/November.

Match Details

Qantas Joeys 4 (Ben Warland 20', Daniel De Silva 76'/87', Taylor Tombides 79') Myanmar 0

Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday 14 September 2011

Referee: Lee Dong JUN (KOREA, REPUBLIC) Assistant Referees: Aminul Islam RIPON (BANGLADESH) & IGOR (TURKMENISTAN) Fourth Official: Iida JUMPEI (JAPAN)

Crowd: 400

Qantas Joeys line up: 12.Andre JANNESE (gk), 3.Aaron CALVER, 4.Benjamin WARLAND (c), 5.Darcy MADDEN, 7.Daniel De SILVA, 8.Kevin LY (21.Conor O'NEILL 46'), 10.Hyuga TANNER, 11.Taylor TOMBIDES, 20.Stephen O'NEILL (17.Joshua MACDONALD 79'), 22.Zackary NICOLIS, 42.Billy HATZINIKOLIS (13.Reece PAPADIMITRIOS 46') Substitutes not used: 1.Jordan THURTELL (gk), 2.Mark OCHIENG, 6.Jordan BROWN, 14.Brendan GONANO, 18.Thomas MANOS, 19. Lukas STERGIOU, 24.James BALDACCHINO, 25.Ross MILLARD, 29. Todd NORRIS

Yellow Cards: Reece PAPADIMITRIOS 67' Red Cards: Nil

Myanmar line up: 12.Soe ARKAR (gk), 2.Min THU, 4.Zin KO TUN (c), 6.Kyaw MIN OO, 11.Aung THU, 17.Soe MIN TUN (7.Myo THURA OO 61'), 18. Khant KO KO SOE, 21.Aung ZAY YA, 23.Aung MYINT MYAT, 24.Thiha HTET AUNG (28.Aung THU PHYO 80'), 32.WANNA (22.Nyein CHAN AUNG 33') Substitutes not used: 14.Wai LIN KO, 19.Aung KYAW KHANT, 20.Pyae SONE AUNG, 25.Yee MIN MYAT (GK), 30.Min THU (GK), 33.Aung HEIN SOE OO, 35.Htin MIN LATT, 36.Myatnoe AUNG

Yellow Cards: Khant KO KO SOE 90', Aung THU 90+3' Red Cards: Nil