Qatar 0 - Australia 1

One goal was enough to place Australia into their first Under 17 World Cup Semi-Final. Half-time substitute Jo Di Iorio volleyed home the winner from 20m out ten minutes after the break to give Australia a 1-0 win over Qatar.

Five times previously the Australians were unable to progress past the Quarter-Finals, but in Les Scheinflug's swansong the Australians are guaranteed two more matches.

Qatar came out firing in the first five minutes with Australian keeper Jess Kedwell-Vanstrattan stretched to push away a shot by Mohamed Yasser.

It was the tonic to awaken the Australians as from then on they dominated just showing the difference in class between the two teams and the two Groups.

Only two minutes following the Qatar attack Louis Brain saw his volley go wide and a little while later livewire attacker Scott McDonald had two good chances, neither of which tested Qatar captain and goalkeeper Salman Al Ansari.

Then in the 29th minute came the best chance of the game for Australia. A specialised free kick from the left saw a confused Qatar defence allow Wayne Srhoj slide in behind. Al Ansari was the only one attentive and pulled off the save of the game from Srhoj's volley.

Towards the end of the first half both Srhoj and Brain had shots, but neither found the target. The Australians were playing a calm and patient game and with the wind behind them in the second period looked for the breakthrough.

It came ten minutes into the second period. A long throw from the right was headed on by a defender and fell to Brain. His first time shot brought another first class save from Al Ansari, but at the cost of a corner.

From this corner the ball was only half cleared. It ballooned invitingly for Jo Di Iorio just outside the box. His volley glided through the crowd of players and past the keeper to give Australia a well deserved lead.

For the next ten minutes both teams settled down and if anything the Qatar team appeared to gain the upper hand for a brief spell midway through the half.

Ali Seydna robbed the ever-sure Adrian Madaschi on the edge of the box, but he was pushed too wide to trouble Kedwell-Vanstrattan.

Then with the Australians having dropped off a notch a Bilal corner kick found Waleed free in the box, yet his first time shot went agonisingly wide of the far post.

From then on the Australians consolidated and held out for a memorable win and their first Semi-Final at this level. Their opponents on Wednesday will be the United States who won a thrilling match 3-2 over arch-rivals Mexico.

In the other Semi-Final, to be played in Auckland, the two finalists from 1995 and 1997 tourneys will meet. Ghana accounted for Uruguay 3-2 on golden-goal whilst Brazil was overpowering in its thrahsing of neighbours Paraguay.

Les Scheinflug was extremely happy for the boys. "You're only as good as your opposition. We played against the wind and I knew we had to be tight at the back. I saved Di Iorio for the second half for when the opponents would tire.

"I don't think the other team had many chances. They turned us around alot, but all they used were longballs and mainly down the wings.

"We can do better. The boys are playing with pride and spirit."

Regards the next hurdle, "USA is a very sharp team. They have a few match winners so I have respect for them. They believe they're already in the final but we have something to say about that."


written by the Nick Guoth