Australia were reduced to nine men by red cards as they crashed out of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a 4-0 loss to Uzbekistan in the round of 16 in Mexico on Thursday (AEST).
Goals in the 11th, 40th, 66th and 89th minutes put an emphatic end to the Joeys’ campaign after they progressed to the knockout clash by finishing third in group F.
Despite controlling possession in the first half, Australia were unable to create any scoring chances, with Uzbekistan the first to capitalise through captain Abbosbek Makhstaliev early in the opening stanza.
Uzbekistan doubled their lead when striker Timur Khakimov found the back of the net after his shot glanced off a Joeys defender.
The chances of a Joeys’ comeback took a hit early in the second half when star striker Dylan Tombides was shown a red card for a reckless tackle.
In the 66th minute, any chance of a Joeys fightback was snuffed out when captain Connor Chapman deflected an Uzbek cross past Australia goalkeeper Paul Izzo for an own goal.
Uzbekistan capped off the nightmare match for the Joeys a minute before fulltime, with a goal to Davlatbek Yarbekov.
Rubbing salt in Australia’s disappointment,Teeboy Kamara was sent off for a second yellow card in the 91st minute.
Joeys’ coach Jan Versleijen said it was a tough way to bow out of the under 17s tournament.
“The way we got the goals against, that made it more hard to comeback and we already had to fight one hour against Denmark with 10 men,” he said.
“To compete in this kind of competition you have to be more better in your ball circulation, you have to be more better in your execution, you have to be more better in possession.
“I think although we are out of the game, it’s been a big opportunity for the boys.”
Uzbekistan now face either Congo or Uruguay in the quarter final on Sunday (AEST).
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