AUSTRALIA has advanced to the Quarter Finals at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships in Trinidad & Tobago, after a convincing 4-0 victory over Croatia, following the final Group A round of matches played in Port of Spain today.
Perth Glory midfielder ANTHONY DANZE proved to be the star of the show, with a brace of goals, as Australia finished in second spot behind Brazil.
The LG Joeys will now move to Tobago to play Group B winners Nigeria on Sunday (aest Monday).
TERRY SMITH, drafted in for his first start, opened the scoring in the 37th minute just as Australia started to dominate, after BRETT HOLMAN drew in three defenders and laid off to Smith who slotted his shot low and hard past the Croatian keeper.
Three minutes later, Danze made it 2-0, rifling home a volley from just outside the penalty box after good lead up work by PREDRAG BOJIC.
Any chance Croatia had of a comeback in the second half was quickly evaporated in the balmy conditions, when Danze rised high at the back post to head home CARL VALERIšS free kick.
Australia rounded off the scoring in the 66th minute, when JAY LUCAS, with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute a minute earlier, thundered home a header at the near post from FRED AGIUSš inswinging corner.
"We won fairly convincingly, and although they started better than us, we got on top of them we pretty much dominated the match and could have added a few more goals," said coach ANGE POSTECOGLOU from Port of Spain earlier.
"I definitely didnšt imagine it would be this easy, but as a unit, the team worked well, we didnšt have a bad player on the night and that made a difference.
"Tonight, we didnšt lose our heads, we made some great passes, and when Croatia tried to pressure us, the boys didnšt lose their composure," he said.
"We have only conceded one goal in three games, so Išm confident that we donšt have to change our approach against Nigeria in the quarters.
"Nigeria are an athletic and quick team, and wešll have to play well to beat them however we are getting stronger with every game we play.
"We have really benefited from our time in Miami, and they showed in the level of fitness in the boys today we are going to have to keep improving as the level of competition goes up, though.
"The world knows that we produce good young players, and they appreciate the football we play after tonightšs match, we hammered that point home." He concluded.
Australian Captain CARL VALERI was named the JVC Player of the Match.
Following the win, West Indian cricketer BRIAN LARA, an avid soccer fan, invited the Australian team back to his house for a bite to eat and drink as a gesture of congratulations to the team.