Australia U18’s suffer heavy defeat by the USA in final AYOF match

The win gives the USA the Gold Medal with Australia finishing in third place behind Chile who easily accounted for China 11-0 earlier in the day.
The USA created the opening chance of the match after only three minutes when. Jose Altamirano cleverly beat his marker on the right-flank before cutting in on his left foot and unleashing a fierce drive on goal but Australian goal-keeper Lucas Andreucci claimed the effort comfortably.
From then on, the Americans began to take a greater share of possession in midfield moving the ball swiftly and applying pressure whenever Australia had possession.
Australia did have chance in the 10^th minute when Peter Franjic?s attempt from a Josh McVey corner ricocheted off a defender but away from USA goal.
USA responded with two corners of their own with Will Bates denied by a superb reflex save from Lucas Andreucci before Kofi Sarkodie saw his free-header finish over the crossbar moments later.
The USA broke the deadlock in the 21^st minute when Will Bates made the most of some space left by the Australia defence. Bates cleverly beat two players before entering the penalty-area, and the , following a fortuitous deflection, rounded a third defender before fiercely driving the ball into the roof of the net from close-range.
Miles Byass doubled the USA?s lead in the 37^th minute when a loose ball on the edge of the Australian penalty-area fell into his possession. Byass then struck a stinging left-footed shot into the top right-hand corner of the goal giving Andreucci no chance of saving.
Just before half time the USA added their third goal of the evening when their free-kick from the left was not cleared by the Australian defence and Will Bates was on hand to stab the ball home to give him his second goal of the match.
Just after the break, Lucas Andreucci produced an exceptional save from an Amobi Okugo header, but could not prevent Jose Altamirano from scoring the USA?s fourth goal with a dipping long-range shot in the 53^rd minute.
The scoring was completed in the 88^th minute when the USA was awarded a penalty and Hasani Sinclair made no mistake converting his attempt.
Australian coach Paul Okon was disappointed with result from the final match but was pleased with the overall performance of his squad through the Australian Youth Olympic Festival
“It was disappointing to lose out today, definitely. Even though we were aware of the big challenge ahead of us (against the USA), said Okon at the conclusion of the match.
“To get to the last match with a chance of winning the tournament was great, and a bronze medal is a great achievement.
“Once we conceded the first goal the heads of our players went down and that was our undoing. Credit to the USA, they were far superior physically and did dominate throughout the encounter.
“The experience for me personally has been exceptional and I believe that a number of these players will figure in future Australian National teams.
“I will be a very happy coach if I have players with the same attitude as these boys; they have been all fantastic.,? concluded Okon.
Match Details
Australia                      0
USA                             5 (Will Bates 21?/42?, Miles Byass 37?, Jose Altamirano 53?, Hasani Sinclair 88?)
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Sunday 18 January, 2009
Referee: Alan Milliner
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling & Nick Backo
Fourth Official: Gary Vandeburgt
Australia line-up: 1.Lucas ANDREUCCI (gk) 4.Daniel BOWLES (c), 5.Peter FRANJIC (3.Dylan DE MONTIS 87?), 6.Kearyn BACCUS, 8.Cameron EDWARDS, 9.Joshua GROENAWALD (14.Tyler THURTELL 87?), 10.Kliment TASESKI, 11.Joshua McVEY (7.Mitchell BEVAN 51?), 13.Steven LUSTICA (12.Jacob BORG 58?), 15.Koh SATAKE (2.Liam HARVEY 87?), 17.James VIRGILI
Substitutes Not Used: 18.Dejan ALEKSIC (gk); 16.Neko VUJEVICH
Yellow Cards: Daniel Bowles 26?, Joshua GROENAWALD 47?, Jacob BORG 90? + 1?
Red Cards: Nil
USA line-up: 1.Zach MACMATH (gk), 2.Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE, 4. Nicholas MILLINGTON, 5.Amobi OKUGO(c), 6.Scott PROZELLER, 7.Jose ALTAMIRANO (13.Scott CALDWELL 87?), 8.Dillon POWERS (23.London WOODBERRY 82?), 11.Miles BYASS (3.Chad BARSON 73?), 12.Kofi SARKODIE, 15. Zarek VALENTIN, 25.Will BATES (9.Adam JAHN 46?) (14.Hasani SINCLAIR 79?)
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Alex LONG (gk), 10.Jossimar SANCHEZ,
Yellow Cards: Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE 47?/71?, Kofi SARKODIE 90? +3?
Red Cards: Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE 71?
Australian National Men?s Youth Olympic Football Squad
Australian Youth Olympic Festival – Sydney 2009
14-18 January 2009
Dejan Aleksic (Perth Glory), Lucas Andreucci (Adelaide United), Kearyn Baccus (NSWIS), Mitchell Bevan (Queensland Roar), Jacob Borg (NSWIS), Daniel Bowles (Queensland Roar), Dylan De Montis (AIS), Cameron Edwards (Perth Glory), Petar Franjic (VIS), Joshua Groenewald (VIS), Liam Harvey (Perth Glory), Steve Lustica (Sydney FC), Josh McVey (Queensland Roar), Koh Satake (QAS), Kliment Taseski (VIS), Tyler Thurtell (Queensland Roar), James Virgili (NSWIS), Neko Vujevich (QAS).
Head Coach: Paul Okon
Australian Youth Olympic Festival ? Football Tournament ? Final Standings – Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood 

For more information regarding the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, please visit www.olympics.com.au