Qantas Under 23s qualify for final stage

The Qantas Under 23s have beaten Jordan 4-0 in Ammam overnight to qualify for the third and final stage of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics.

The Qantas Under 23s have progressed to the third and final stage of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Jordan in Amman overnight. After a tight first half the Australian side completed dominated the second period with goals from David Williams (2), Nick Ward and Dario Vidosic.

The Australian side went into the match knowing a draw would guarantee progression to the next stage of qualifying which commences in August. Australia finished the group on eleven points with Iran concluding their matches with five points after a final match 3-2 defeat at home to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia won the group on 15 points with Jordan finishing on two points.

Following the scoreless first half, the Qantas Under 23s took the lead in the 54th minute when Brondby-based striker David Williams was able to finish off a neat one-two passing move with Bruce Djite. The Australians lead was doubled in the 68th minute when substitute Nick Ward headed home a David Williams corner.

David Williams sealed the match five minutes later when he beat the Jordanian offside-trap and slotted home his one-on-one opportunity past the advancing opposition goalkeeper.

The match was point beyond doubt when Dario Vidosic hit a stinging right-footed shot from outside the box during injury time that rocketed into the top-right corner to give the Qantas Under 23s a memorable 4-0 victory and a place in the final stage of qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“We started a little nervously, and though we didn-t create too much in the first half, we also did not give much away,” said Qantas Under 23s coach Rob Baan.

"I felt that once we scored our first that we would really dominate and so it proved.

"At half time I was able to change our tactics a little bit which worked well. The whole team played very well in the second half much like we played in the match against Iran last month and we created creating chances and finished them", concluded Baan.

The third stage features 12 teams split into three groups and will be held from August 22 - November 21, with only the three group winners representing Asia at the Beijing Olympic Games. The draw for the third stage of qualifying will take place next Wednesday 13th June in Kuala Lumpur at AFC House.

Match Details:

Jordan 0 Australia 4 (David Williams 54-, 72-, Nick Ward, 68-, Dario Vidosic 91-)

Australian line-up: Danny Vukovic (gk); Trent McClenahan, Aaron Downes, Adrian Leijer, Ruben Zadkovich (Ersan Gulum 83-), Mark Milligan (c), Neil Kilkenny, Dario Vidosic, Nathan Burns (Nick Ward 58-), David Williams (Adam Casey 74-), Bruce Djite.

Cautions: Downes 20-, Milligan 68-