FFA National Junior Championships Day 1
The next generation of Australian footballers took to O ’Connor Enclosed for day one of the inaugural National Junior Championships in Canberra.
The next generation of Australian footballers took to O -Connor Enclosed for day one of the inaugural National Junior Championships in Canberra.
The new championships are for under-13 girls and under-14 boys, the first time either age group has played a national titles.
New South Wales made a perfect start to their junior championship-s campaign, winning both fixtures against Queensland on the opening day with a 2-0 and 1-0 in the Boys 13 and Girls 14 competitions respectively.
New South Wales- Noah Chianese became the first to score at the tournament, finding the back of the net only three minutes after FFA Technical Director Han Berger officially opened the nationals. Brandon Lundy then doubled NSW's lead after 26 minutes.
Overall after the first day of the Boys 13s, South Australia lead the way after courtesy of their impressive 3-0 victory over Tasmania. Tasmania knew they were in for a tough afternoon when Sam Geogiadis opened the scoring against the Apple Isle after only two minutes which was followed by an own goal and a strike from Dylan Centrone to seal the three points and the top of the ladder spot after Day 1.
Western Australia finished the afternoon in style as they handed their Canberra hosts a 3-1 defeat after a couple goals worthy of any highlights reel. The margin was reduced when ACT-s Alex Popovich capitalised on one of the few chances minutes from time in the final game of the afternoon.
In the Girls 14-s competition, Alisha Bass claimed New South Wales- only goal in the eleventh minute as her side went on to claim the only victory in their competition and subsequent top of the table.
The remaining two matches in the girl-s side of the draw concluded in draws after nothing could separate Northern NSW and Victoria followed by the ACT and Western Australia.
Northern NSW struck first through Nadja Squires after only two minutes when their lead was nullified three minutes later Julia Sardo levelled the scores for Victoria meanwhile neither Western Australia or the ACT found find a way through to goal as all four sides remain deadlocked on one point a-piece on the table.
Under 13 Boys :NSW 2 (N Chianese 3-, B Lundy 26-) Queensland 0, Victory 1 (A Hrustic 33-) Northern NSW 0, South Australia 3 (S Georgiadis 2-, Own Goal 22-, D Centrone 34-) Tasmania 0, Western Australia 3 (B Hombert 13-, A De Francesch 34-, C Mackay 39-) ACT 1 (A Popovich 48-)
Boys 13 | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
3 |
New South Wales | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Victoria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Northern NSW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Queensland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
ACT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
Tasmania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Girls 14 | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
New South Wales | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Northern NSW | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Victoria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
ACT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Western Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Queensland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |