Qantas Young Socceroos downed by Costa Rica
The Qantas Young Socceroos suffered their second defeat at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, losing 0-3 to Costa Rica in Port Said, Egypt on Wednesday night (Thursday morning AEST).
One down at the break, Australia conceded two late goals in a loss that was compounded by a red card to winger Tahj Minniecon.
Australia made two changes to the side which lost to Czech Republic, with Sean Rooney and Aaron Mooy coming in for Jason Hoffman and the suspended Ryan McGowan.
While they had the first chance of the game when Daniel Mullen headed over the bar from a Mooy corner, it was Costa Rica who took the lead in the 35th minute when a quickly taken free kick finished up with Diego Madrigal, who turned and fired a right-foot shot into the back of the net, via the upright - just as the Czechs had four days earlier.
Dean Bouzanis kept Australia in the contest four minutes later when he saved with his toe after Josue Martinez broke down the left.
Australia had a great chance to level just moments before the break when Mitch Nichols had a shot saved before James Holland-s rebound was deflected for a corner.
Rhyan Grant made his first appearance of the tournament when he came on for Mullen at half time and Minniecon was brought on in the 55th minute, but referee Mohamed Benouza sent him off for retaliation five minutes later.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Australia could have equalised when Holland got on the end of a cross, but keeper Esteban Alvarado was equal to the task in the 82nd minute.
Seconds later the Qantas Young Socceroos were caught out as they searched for the equaliser. Under pressure from a Costa Rican striker, Luke DeVere was looking for Bouzanis but his header went over the oncoming keeper and into the net for an unfortunate own goal.
And David Guzman rubbed salt into the wound when he netted a third three minutes into injury time, to ensure a 3-0 win to the Costa Ricans.
Qantas Young Socceroos coach Jan Versleijen was bitterly disappointed after the match.
"The result was extremely disappointing. I think the way we started this game was good. We tried to put pressure on Costa Rica and we tried to make them play long balls and it worked out well for the first 30 or so minutes," Versleijen said.
"But after that Costa Rica started to take over the game a bit more, especially in the midfield and that resulted in the free kick.
"Even at half time we had the feeling that we could change the result and we started to get back into it in the second half. We controlled the game, got some half chances.
"We brought on Tahj Minniecon to add some pace and skill but he was sent off after five minutes and then it was very difficult playing against Costa Rica with 10 men and 1-0 down.
"We had high expectations for this World Cup, from the players and staff to people in Australia, but we also knew that playing in this group was not easy and if we want to be at the highest level and if you want to get results everyone has to be at their highest level and that-s something we were rally lacking in these two games.--
Australia now has the slimmest of chances of advancing to the knockout phase, needing a win against Brazil in its last game as well as other results to go their way - teams have advance to the last 16 with three points in each of the last three FIFA U-20 World Cups.
But Versleijen said the focus had to be only on the Brazil match.
"You should always be positive but you should also be realistic. First we should get our heads up and be strong enough to face Brazil and get the best possible result," he said.
"We don't want to go back to Australia with no points.--
The Qantas Young Socceroos take on Brazil on Saturday (Sunday 0630 AEST) in their final Group E match at Port Said Stadium.
All Qantas Young Socceroos matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup are being broadcast live and exclusive on SBS TV (see www.sbs.com.au for full broadcast details).
Match Details: Qantas Young Socceroos 0 - Costa Rica 3 (Madrigal -35, DeVere OG -82, Guzman ‘90+3) Wednesday 30 September, 2009 Port Said Stadium, Egypt Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Alg) Assistants: Nasser Sadek Abdel Nabi (Egy), Angesom Ogbamariam (Eri)
Qantas Young Socceroos line-up: 18. Dean Bouzanis (gk), 2. Daniel Mullen (17. Rhyan Grant -46), 3. Luke DeVere, 16. Ben Kantarovski, 5. Matthew Jurman, 6. James Holland (c), 8. Aaron Mooy, 10. Mitch Nichols, 14. Kofi Danning (12. Nathan Elasi ‘74), 11. Thomas Oar (14. Tahj Minniecon ‘55), 19. Sean Rooney. Unused substitutes: 1. Andrew Redmayne (gk), 21. Alex Cisak (gk), 9. Jason Hoffman, 15. Sam Munro, 20. Sam Gallagher.
Yellows Cards: Rooney -46, Nichols -69, Jurman ‘90. Red Cards: Minniecon -60.
Costa Rica line-up: 1. Esteban Alvarado, 2. Jose Mena (c), 4. Kenner Gutierrez, 8. David Guzman, 10. Diego Estrada, 11. Diego Madrigal, 12. Cristian Gamboa, 13. Allen Guevara (9. Jorge Castro -66), 14. Bryan Oviedo, 16. Carlos Hernandez (19. Daniel Varela ‘79), 17. Josue Martinez (7. Marcos Urena ‘56). Unused substitutes: 18. Minor Alvarez (gk), 21. Danny Carvajal (gk), 3. Roy Smith, 5. Derrick Johnson, 6. Ricardo Blanco, 15. Pedro Leal, 20. Esteban Luna.
Yellows Cards: Hernandez -35, Oviedo -79, Guzman -84, Castro ‘90+2. Red Cards: Nil