The first quarter final of the World Youth Championship was held in Brisbane, with the hosts deserved participants. As I have said before the success of this tournament and soccer generally depends on the Australians making a good showing. These were the guys trying to stop them Uruguay : 1. Sergio Martinez, 2. Marcus Mandruga, 3. Nelson Oliveira, 5. Tabare Silva, 6. Edgardo Adinolfi, 7. Sergio Sena, 8. Fabian O'Neil, 9. Rodrigo Lemos, 10. Alejandro Marquez, 11. Fernando Correa, 18. Fernando Rodriguez Australia : 2. Craig Moore, 3. Aaron Holst, 4. Ante Juric, 5. Marc Wingell, 6. Kevin Muscat, 8. Anthony Carbone, 9. Paul Agostino, 10. Anthony Milicic, 11. Peter Tsekenis, 13. Ante Moric, 18. Vincent Matassa Referee : Remi Harrel (France) Despite the unfortunate turn of events which saw the Aussies leave the Sydney Football Stadium die-hard fans were able to witness the events in Brisbane live on the stadium screen. The initial period was begun cautiously by both sides and understandably so. Initial fears gave rise to yellow cards for Sergio Sena just returned from suspensions, and Carbone (methinks or was it Moore). Uruguay had 11 men behind the ball when Australia was in possession and Australia were similarly keen to prevent early goals. Early on things looked even enough but Uruguay grew in confidence. So much so that they began to dominate and, as had been the case in their previous games, Uruguay went into the lead. Twenty-one minutes had gone when Sergio Sena rushed the defence and got a one-two going with Correa. Kevin Muscat was the only man left chasing Sena and he was unable to stop the ball being slid past a diving Matassa into the goal. The goal had looked on the cards but it's eventuation had the Aussies reeling. The defence was agitated and there were few raids of note being made by Australia in the following 15 to 20 minutes. Australia, infact, were probably lucky not to go further behind to the marauding Uruguayans. Uruguay's best chance to extend the lead came only minutes after their goal. The ball was crossed to Marquez and, showing extraordinary skill he turned on a six-pence (dime for US readers) and tried to chip the keeper. The only thing between him and the scoresheet was the crossbar which ensured the ball bounced behind. Several other promising raids were shut down by valiant defence from Australia and the desperation evident in Milicic defending in his half and getting a yellow card into the bargain, which meant he would miss the semi-final whatever the result. Aaron Holst was also carded in this period for a foul on Correa. The Brisbane crowd was somewhat subdued but soon came to life as Uruguay, not able to extend the lead, began to settle back into a more defensive pattern. Australia began to overcome their nerves and began to hold the ball for longer periods and gained their first corner, which was no trouble for the Uruguay keeper but needed catching nonetheless. It was a mixture of Uruguay's failure to convert their chances to put Australia virtually out of the tournament, and gritty determination not to fail their increasing legion of fans by the Australians which kept the match alive. A header down by Tsekines to the running Agostino gave Agostino a shot at goal which he hit firmly and accurately but straight to the keeper. More indication to the swinging tide. The Uruguayans had their coach sent off by referee Harrel for coaching from the sideline during one of the lengthy injury breaks in the first half. Injury time ran close to six minutes in the first half and both sides seemed relieved to hear the whistle after 51 minutes of play. The match was running in favour of the Uruguayans, even if the Australians looked threatening they rarely caused any fear to the keeper and Uruguay's lead. Significantly though the half time stats showed Australia with 57% possession time despite their early failure to exercise control. I was worried but not unduly, there was time enough for either side to take the match from the other. I made a pitstop and returned to my seat to see the second half. The match was becoming a more open affair with some good Australian raids on Uruguay's goal which started the Aussie chant in the crowd. Of course Uruguay also started a few attacks which kept Uruguay's supporters happy and I was getting the feeling that the next goal would win the match, or maybe I just remember it that way. Uruguay kept the referee busy when the No 10 was booked for kicking the ball away after a throw was given to Australia. Lemos and Correa combined down the right flank to create an oppertunity of such skill that when I reflect upon it it was probably deserving of a goal. Instead it sailed over a flying Matassa and a very motionless goalmouth. In reply Australia also raided down the right and Roriguez put an untimely end to Milicic's run. Remi Harrel did his thing with the yellow card and Ante Moric put the free kick into the area. Paul Agostino leapt above the two defenders waiting for the ball and knocks it into the goal. Just over 60 minutes had gone and Australia were level. The Brisbane crowd cheered madly as did those fans who came to the SFS early. I was pretty pleased myself though I can't quite recall what I did, probably a lot of jumping and screaming. The early bird Ghanaians also cheered obviously hoping to get Aussie fans onside against Russia. Tsekines also gave Agostino a chance at goal, again from a free kick. Unfortunately Agostino didn't do as well as he should have with the free header. Australia were steadily mounting pressure but as time wore on I was getting pretty worried about any slip, one mistake by a player or the referee, which would cost Australia the game. Uruguay, too, would have wanted to avoid this but Fabian O'Neil was lucky to stay on the field after the Referee missed his boxing skills. While waiting in the Australian penalty area for a free kick he was guarded by Muscat and O'Neil gave him a quick left to the face while the Ref wasn't looking. Charmed I'm sure. Soon after Traversa came on for Adinolfi, and Agostino put another free kick - header just over the bar. I was getting decidedly nervous by now. The Commentator was saying Uruguay came first in their group in Brisbane in 1981, and lost the Melbourne QF 2-1 to Romania. Prophetic words. Minutes ticked by and Nestor Correa replaced an injured Fabian O'Neil while Australia had a good run from Anthony Carbone into the area, he was given an untimely meeting with the turf, no penalty eventuated and I did seem a fair decision. I wasn't much interested in the fairness of it all I just wanted Australia to win. However if the situation were reversed I would have felt very hard done by so the referee did well. Uruguay too were looking for the winner and as Lemos prepared for a free kick Jim Tsekinis replaced Ante Milicic. The free kick didn't come to much but Uruguay looked dangerous whenever they had a sniff of the target. Marquez was served well by a cross by Nestor Correa with 5 minutes to go but Australia got bodies in between the ball and goal in a big hurry and averted disaster. I was wondering whether the St. Johns Ambulance had the ability to help heart attack victims. I put my name on the 'Most likely' list. Full time and still it was 1-1. FIFA would pay dearly if Australia lost now. I read up on letter bombs and the Swiss postal service, just incase. "Dear Joao....BOOM!" Hehe. Sudden Death extra time, even the name sounds nasty. Agostino got a nasty blow in the face as he tried to head a long ball over the keeper, he was unsuccessful. He continued on after treatment which was good news as he is the main target for the midfielders. At the other end Sena had Marquez free to his left but tried to grab the glory through a crowded area. He got a corner which yielded little, when a more prudent pass may have seen Uruguay win. Jim Tsekinis put in a cross which became a shot with the breeze putting it only about half a metre from the far post. Still nothing which counts. The goal kick was retrieved by Australia at half way and came again to Jim Tsekinis. He ran down the right, left his marker on the ground and threaded a pass into the middle. One Aussie was marked by two defenders at the near post but the Aussie beyond them had a defender bearing down on him also. In his rush the defender missed the ball and, unable to stop, ran straight past Anthony Carbone who headed the ball into the ground, then the net. Absolute BEDLAM! Eddie Thompson congratulated Les Scheinflug and some of the Uruguayan players had to be restrained from taking a measure of revenge for their untimely departure. Have a nice trip guys, happy landings. Winners are grinners. Australia 2 (P Agostino 63) - Uruguay 1 (S Sena 21) (A Carbone et 10)