Mali 0 - Australia 1

At half-time in Match 2 against Germany many would have written off Australia in this tournament, such were how they were outplayed. After beating Mali 1-0 in the final game, they finish group leaders and have the luxury of remaining in Christchurch.

Australia decided to run with the gale (north-westerly) in the first half hoping that the predicted sourthery change would hit during the match.

They exerted the early pressure on Mali, something the team had not shown in either of the two other matches. In the 11th minute a cross from Dylan McAllister found Scott McDonald who headed wide.

Mali were continuously closed down whenever they had the ball with man-of-the-match Adrian Madaschi, who plays for Atalanta in the Italian Serie B, having a superb game as sweeper.

Yet they were still able to generate some chances throughout the match which gave the Australian some worrying moments. Kante Koly received the ball in the box in the 22nd minute and set up Mohamed Sidibe for a great chance which he skied.

Mali were to pay for this mistake when only a minute later a hesitant defence saw an attempted clearance fall to Scott McDonald behind the defence. McDonald, now one-on-one with keeper Cheick Oumar Bathily produced a classy finish to give the Australians the lead.

A few minutes later and some very nice skills from Djibril Sidibe were not rewarded. He manouvered through the defence and played a one-two with Idrissa Kone before shooting low and at Jess Kedwell-Vanstrattan.

With the teams changing sides at the break, the wind did not follow the Australians and so they had to soak up a whole lot of early pressure.

As early as the third minute of the half Kedwell-Vanstrattan was called into action. Kone headed on a throw for Mamadou Diawara to volley, but the save was as good as the shot.

Only a few minutes later Diawara was through but then he lost control and saw the ball roll easily into the keeper's hands.

Diawara was in the heat of the action during a three minute spell where the Australians had to put out all stops to withhold the Mali barrage.

Kedwell-Vanstrattan grabbed the ball off his feet and then moments later Diawara sent a header wide. A few minutes more and Louis Brain blocked a solid Amadou Diallo shot from close quarters and finally a long shot from Mohamed Sidibe was well held by the keeper.

The introduction of live-wire player Abdoul Diallo had sparked the Mali team to life. His work down the right had set up a number of chances for his team-mates.

With under ten-minutes left Australia could have settled the match. A quick move down the left saw Shane Cansdell-Sherriff send the ball to Scott McDonald. He cut inside before finding Dylan McAllister unmarked inside the box, but the tall attacker's shot was not well placed and gave Bathily no problems.

Mali's last chance came in the dying seconds. A throw from Dalla Mane Diallo was headed on by Souleymane Diamoutene to an unmarked Abdoul Traore, but his volley was mis-directed and flew well over the bar.

Thus ended Mali's campaign in the 1999 World Under 17 Championships. They only conceded one goal in teh championships eqauled only by Brazil, but their inability to score at the other end was their downfall.

Les Scheinflug was obviously elated, especially about being able to stay in Christchurch as winners of Group C. "It was a difficult job as I told you from the start. Everybody can beat everybody.

"I think tactically we won the game today. We played on set pieces although we got ourselves in a little bit of bother in the last five minutes. They never really looked like scoring until the last kick.

"This team has been differnet in that they haven't worked as much as other Under 17s. They've come along way since our Chairman sent us to South America. They learn't a lot

"I'm proud of them. They had guts and came through with flying colours. I'm sure they'll be a bit tired but that win will compensate everything."

Regards the loss of Shane Cansdell-Sherriff to a second caution, Les said "I may bring in Iain Fyfe or Lucas Pantelis".

"I think we can still improve. We haven't played as well as we can. All the Europeans have gone but the poor sheep herders from Australia are still in".

So onto the Quarter-Final against Qatar and for Les "I don't look back (regards Australia's inability to progress past the Quarter-Finals_, I look forward. I don't promise anything but we have quite a good chance.

Australia has played Qatar twice before with a win a piece. In Italy in 1991 Australia lost 1-0 in the final match but still topped the group. In 1995 in Ecuador, Australia again in the final match easily won 3-0.


written by the Nick Guoth