Geoblocked on youtube, haven't tried a vpn yet.

Here's the first goal at least:

AFC Hub stream is working for me with a VPN, I use a free Chrome extention called Hola VPN.

2-0, Kamau heads in a Popovic cross, well done to DDS setting him up too.

HT 2-0.

Lineup is:

Half time stats:

Just cruising along at the moment - good game to work on our shape and tactics.

Blackwood with two goals, Kamau with one goal and an own goal from Deng.

Deng was really odd this game. Was all over the place in his positioning.

Highlights:

A lot of similarity in all 4 goals. A through ball past the final line of defence followed by a cross in the centre. A convincing win and I'm not complaining or critiquing. But we will have to wait and see whether a different defence (e.g. one that doesn't sit so far forward and/or one that can position itself for through balls) completely nullifies the attack or whether we have other attacking outlets.

Forgot this was on, looks a good result though. Also Korea currently drawing with Vietnam 1-1 at half time.

FT South Korea 2 Vietnam 1.

Looks like it'll be a very competitive group.

Whats been the deal with Hrustic of late? Completely forgot about him. Transfermarkt shows he hasn't played for the last two months or so. Has he been injured? 

I think he was injured for a period of time then got suspended and hasn't been able to get back in the team.

Uzbekistan beat China 1:0. Oman Qatar up in 5min. Hope Oman can hold them to keep the group pretty even. 

Qatar win 1:0. First tie breaker is H2H so I assume they're through now. 

Hopefully China get a home win over them.

I get that Japan have gone for a younger squad of 97/98 born players with their home Olympic campaign in mind, but interesting they could only manage a 1-0 win over little Palastine. They've got Thailand tonight.

Next Australia game is tomorrow Sunday 14th at 7pm AEDT against Vietnam.

I've had two viewings of the second half against Syria.

Buhagiar's finishing was as poor as it is for CCM. His general wing play was good.

Cowburn was too easily dribbled around at RB.

Mauk's defensive work was better than his attacking work, apart from some brilliant killer passes. 

De Silva was disappointing given his recent HAL form.

There was little offensive impetus on the left flank.

Too many times  Aussies in the attacking half could not turn and play forwards with effective body shape, when receiving angled balls where they should've been able to keep playing forwards.

The bumpy pitch probably didn't help.

Malaysia Jordan 1:1
Saudi Iraq 0:0

Palestine North Korea 1:1
Japan Thailand 1:0

Park to fix Vietnam’s problem ahead of Australia clash


Vietnamese players are training in China. They will play Australia in the second round match of Group D at the Asian U23 Championship. (Photo: ​VFF)


Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Park Hang-seo is worried about the physique of his Vietnamese players when they play Australia in their second match at the Asian Football Federation U23 Championship in Kunshan, China, on January 14.

After the first round Group D matches on January 11, the Korean coach said the coming match would be more difficult than the first, as Australian players have much better form than his players.

“Vietnamese players are always confused when they face rivals who are bigger and taller than them. However, I think we can beat them if we play with confidence. I will have to change my players’ attitude when they are facing a huge opponent,” said Park through an interpreter.

Park said Vietnam’s 2-1 loss to the Republic of Korea in the first match occurred because of personal mistakes, although the whole team in general played well and did what he had instructed them to do. He said they would do better.

“It was the first match. We could have made it something special when we scored first but unfortunately we lost. In the next game, we will play Australia, a strong team with good technique. However, we have the right to hope for a positive result, and we can spring surprises,” he said.

Park and his players spent hours watching video clips of the Australian team playing, and they have analysed their pros and cons. They then discussed how to fix Vietnam’s weaknesses, including high-ball resistance, which was one of Vietnam’s long-time problems.

On the other side, the Olyroos defeated Syria 3-1 in their first match. In their rosters, there are five players who have faced Vietnamese players in several tournaments since 2014.

Daniel Peter De Silva, George Blackwood, Benjamin Garuccio, Brandon Wilson and Stefan Ingo Mauk were members of the youth team who lost thrice to Vietnam, comprising players such as Nguyen Cong Phuong, Luong Xuan Truong and Nguyen Van Toan, in international tournaments during the last four years.

However, Australia are ranked higher compared to Vietnam, and they are even a title favourites this year.

Blackwood has become a sharp goal hunter after he made a double in Australia’s win on January 11.

Coach Ante Milicic said his players could not lose their focus if they want to have a good result against Vietnam.

Australia is on top of the group ranking. Another win on January 14 will push them to the knock-out stage.

He said Australia has respect for all rivals. "Vietnam was a good team. I watched them and saw that they were really determined during the whole game. Their defenders worked specially well. His players must prepare carefully for that game."

However, Milicic confirmed that he may not have some key players for the match because of injuries.

Striker Bruce Kamau, who scored the second goal for Australia, and midfielder Milislav Popovic, who assisted Kamau in that goal, left their field just several minutes later.

“We got three points, but we have sustained a couple of injuries so that is a sour note," he said on the-afc.com.

Two years ago in the same tournament, Australia and Vietnam were drawn in Group D. Australia beat Vietnam 2-0. However, both sides were eliminated after the group round.-VNA

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/park-to-fix-vietnams-problem-ahead-of-australia-clash/124822.vnp

We will lose against Vietnam. We always do. 

generally vietnams u23s have been a lot weaker than their u20s who in turn are weaker than their u17s

AFC defends integrity after Syria field players with irregular birth dates in Australia's U-23s win

Ages queried: Syria line up for their opening game against the Olyroos in Kunshan.
Ages queried: Syria line up for their opening game against the Olyroos in Kunshan. Photo: User
The Asian Football Confederation has defended the integrity of its youth tournaments after a series of highly irregular registered birth dates among the Syrian national under-23 team were revealed after their match against Australia.

Fairfax Media can reveal Syria's starting line-up for their AFC U-23 Championship group-stage 3-1 defeat included two players whose birth dates were officially registered as being on the cut-off date to be deemed eligible for the youth tournament.

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Suspicions were raised about the age of several players when strikers Shadi Al-Hamwi and Mohammad Rafat Muhtadi were both registered as being born on January 1, 1995, and are the only players across all teams in the competition whose dates of birth are listed as the cut-off date for registration. According to the competition's regulations, the 2018 U-23 tournament is for players who "were born on or after 1 January 1995."

Al-Hamwi and Muhtadi both started against Australia on Thursday night in the Chinese city of Kunshan and are among eight Syrian players whose birthdays are registered as January 1. Two others whose birth dates are registered on New Year's Day also started against Australia, defenders Moumen Naji (1996) and Mhd Farnes Arnaout (1997).

The AFC is aware of the unusual pattern of registered birth dates with the Syrian national team and says they have sought to verify all dates of birth with as many official documents it can receive. However, the organisation says it is still limited with its powers when it comes to age verification, which is a difficult process that relies on national football federations and federal governments providing true and accurate documentation.

"T​he AFC cross-checks all documentation it receives from the Member Associations relating to players' ages. This is a complex issue involving various international and state authorities and responsibility lies with all of them to protect Asian football from age fraud," an AFC spokesperson said.

Football Federation Australia declined to comment on the issue of age registration of Syrian players when contacted by Fairfax Media on Sunday. The AFC says it is taking more steps to ensure the integrity of its youth tournaments are upheld and is allowing members of the public to report potential breaches to the organisation.

"Integrity is a cornerstone of the AFC's Vision and Mission and the AFC has implemented various measures in order to prevent, detect and respond to integrity issues across the continent. Such measures include the appointment of an ​independent Head of integrity, and the provision of an integrity email address (iintegrity@the-afc.com) and mobile App through which anyone who is concerned about an integrity matter can report it to the AFC," a spokesperson said.

January 1 is a common registered date of birth for many Syrians, particularly those who do not come from major urban areas where documentation isn't easily acquired. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reportedly used January 1 as a date of birth for all Syrian refugees who do not have identification and do not know their exact date of births.

The FFA has raised concerns about ages of Syrian players in previous Asian competitions. In 2012, the FFA and Saudi Arabia submitted official complaints alleging Syria fielded over-age players in an U-19s team. Former FFA head of national teams, John Boultbee, suggested age cheating was widespread throughout the region.

"A few days before the competition began, we were provided with the registration list and the Syrian team featured six players born on January 1, 1993 – the last day you could be born to be eligible. The whole team had January birth dates," Boultbee told media in 2012.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/afc-defends-integrity-after-syria-field-players-with-irregular-birth-dates-in-australias-u23s-win-20180114-h0i4om.html

Hrustic nearly with a great goal

Rubbish half, lots of possession and created nothing while being cut apart on the counter. Lucky for it to be 0-0

Man, that's pathetic. I thought this was meant to be a strong Australian side. Should not be losing to Vietnam. 

Typical youth team performance, pathetic. But of course, since we had 70% possession and bossed the midfield that makes everything ok

FMD

It's shit like this that kills the perception of the A league generation, toothless and useless possession. Should be beating Vietnam.