The Young Socceroos have stormed their way to the AFF U19 Championship with an emphatic 5-1 win against reigning champions Thailand.
Australia went into the match as underdogs have been beaten by Thailand just days earlier in the group stage, managing to turn the score line around.
The victory marks an immediate impact by coach Ufuk Talay who was only appointed into the position earlier this month.
“We tweaked the team a little bit from the one that played against Thailand earlier where we played a lot wider to create more space for the midfielders to come in between the lines,” Ufuk told reporters following the match.
“We love coming to these AFF competitions where in this two weeks, we got seven quality games which we can bring to Bahrain.”
Melbourne City youngster Steven Kuzmanovski led the way for Australia with a double, as Keanu Baccus, George Blackwood and Joseph Champness all managed to get onto the scoresheet.
Substitute Jakkit Wakkpirom pulled a consolation goal back late for Thailand, but the result was beyond doubt by that stage.
Talay and his players will now immediately turn their attentions to the AFC U19 Championships where are they in Group D alongside China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Australia will open their campaign against China on October 15.
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