The Qantas Young Socceroos have been eliminated from the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 2-1 loss to hosts Turkey in Trabzon.
The Qantas Young Socceroos have been eliminated from the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 2-1 loss to hosts Turkey in Trabzon.
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.
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 Qantas 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 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.
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.