Qantas Joeys qualify for AFC U-16 Championship

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The Qantas Joeys have qualified for the AFC Under-16 Championship 2010 after Malaysia and Laos played out a 4-4 draw in Canberra today.

Needing a victory to maintain their qualification hopes, Malaysia started the stronger of the two teams as they controlled much of the play early in the first half.

Their dominance was nearly rewarded when Laos almost gifted them the opening goal after only ten minutes when goalkeeper Phonepaseuth Vongsipasom was dispossessed of the ball on the edge of the box before a scrambling defence saw any danger averted.

Laos opened the scoring just after the quarter hour following a free kick from outside the area. The ball went through the hands of Malaysian keeper, Mohamad Firdaus, to Lembo Saysana who was on hand to slot into an open goal.

Five minutes later, Laos nearly extended their lead but Sengdao Inthilath couldn-t find the target after Firdaus raced off his line to make a tackle on the edge of his 18-yard box. Inthilath struck the resulting loose ball first time but his attempt went just wide of the left hand upright.

Malaysia conceded an own goal in the 32nd minute following a brilliant run from Nidnilanh Chanchaleune through the Malaysian defence. Chanchaleune then laid off to Chanthaphone Waenvongsoth who blasted the ball across the face of goal. Lembo then had a second attempt and his shot took a deflection from a Malaysian defender and into the back of the goal.

Malaysia immediately struck back moments later when a stunning free kick from Muhammad Syazwan found the top right corner to reduce the margin to 2-1.

Malaysia equalized five minutes before half-time after striker Muhammad Akmal was brought down in the penalty area by Phoutthakone Keovongsa. The resulting penalty taken by Akhir proving successful.

Malaysia pushed hard from the start of the second half and nearly took the lead five minutes in when a Akhir shot from distance had the keeper beaten but struck the crossbar.

Shortly after, Laotian defender Phoutthakone Keovongsa was sent off for his second yellow card offence and from the resulting free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box Syazwan curled in hi shot to give Malaysia the lead..

Five minutes later Malaysia were also reduced to ten players following the sending off of Muhammad Hafiz for his second bookable offence.

Malaysia extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Akmal used his strength to hold off a couple defenders and get a shot away which struck the bottom of the right post and bounced giving substitute Laotian goalkeeper Anousak Noyvong little chance of saving.

In the final twist to the match, Laos scored twice in three minutes to level the scores 4-4. Lembo was allowed to walk in on goal in the 66th minute and that goal was followed quickly by a converted penalty to Khonesavanh Shavong, after Southinh Sayalath was brought down in the box.

Five minutes from time, Malaysia nearly took the points when a free kick by Mohammad Ridzuan forced a very acrobatic save out of Noyvong. The entertaining 4-4 result denying both Malaysia and Laos qualification for next years AFC U-16 Championship but ensuring the Qantas Joeys passage to the tournament.

The Qantas Joeys face Malaysia in the final match of the AFC U-16 Championship (Qualifiers) on Friday.

Match Details: Laos 4 (Lembo 16-/66-, Ridzuan 30-(og), Khonesavanh 70-(pen)) Malaysia 4 (Syazwan 32-/50-, Akhir 40-(pen), Akmal 63-) Canberra, Australia

Laos line-up: 1. Phonepaseuth Vongsipasom (gk) (18. Anousak Noyvong 56-), 2. Thinnakone Souliyamath, 3. Phoutthakone Keovongsa, 4. Yulananh Souksavanath, 5. Tiengkham Bounyaxaysy, 7. Chanthaphone Waenvongsoth, 9. Nidnilanh Chanchaleune, 10. Khonesavanh Shavong (c), 11. Lembo Saysana, 12. Phoutdavy Phommasane (15. Southinh Sayalath 55-), 14. Sengdao Inthilath (8. Sitthisay Nanthavong 82-)

Substitutes Not Used: 6. Souksakhone Vongsa, 16. Samphansay Phoutthakhoun, 17. Souksavanh Sisongkham,

Yellow Cards: Phoutthakone 38-/50-, Tiengkham 90-+3 Red Cards: Phoutthakone 50-

Malaysia line-up: 5. Muhammad Syazwan, 8. Muhammad Hanif, 11. Muhammad Ammar (c) (7. Nik Syafiq Syazwan 46-), 12. Nur Areef (15. Mohamad Azzizan 40-), 13. Mohammad Ridzuan, 16. Muhammad Shaaban, 17. Muhammad Hafiz, 18. Mohamad Yazid (6. Mohamad Ashmawi 75-), 20. Muhamad Akhir, 22. Mohamad Firdaus (gk), 23. Muhammad Akmal,

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Muhammad Illham, 2. Osman Bin Mohamad, 9. Muhammad Rijal Fikry, 14. Mohamad Fareez Fitri, 21. Muhamad Syazani, 25. Mohamad Fazrul, 26. Muhammad Amil Syukri

Yellow Cards: Hafiz 17-/55-, Akhir 59-, Syazwan 76-

Red Cards: Hafiz 55-