The Young Socceroos launched two-goal comeback with ten men to salvage a 2-2 draw from their opening 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualifier against Laos.
Two second-half goals rescued a point in the National Stadium in Kaohsiung, where the Caltex Socceroos had beaten Chinese Taipei 7-1 three week earlier.
Laos struck first blood 16 minutes into the competition opener and Australia’s task grew tougher when they were reduced to ten men in the 20th minute.
The Southeast Asians doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time as Gary van Egmond’s faced an uphill battle heading into the interval.
But, as the second-half wore on, the Young Socceroos fought their way back into the match and gave themselves a lifeline with a 65th-minute strike.
The comeback was completed from a corner on 78 minutes to bring the scores level at 2-2 as Australia earned a share of the points in the Group H opener.
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YOUNG SOCCEROOS: van Egmond's squad for 2020 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers
Van Egmond’s men play two more group matches against Macau and the hosts, Chinese Taipei, later this week.
The winners of Group H will advance to the AFC U-19 Championship in Uzbekistan. The four best runners up from the 11 groups will join the hosts at the finals in October 2020.
Young Socceroos | AFC U-19 Championship 2020 Qualifying Group H
Macau v Australia
Date: Friday, 8 November 2019
Location: National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Australia v Chinese Taipei
Date: Sunday, 10 November 2019
Location: National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local); 10.00pm (AEDT)
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