The Young Socceroos have bowed out of the AFC U-19 Championships after being held to a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan in their final group match on Wednesday morning.
Paul Okon’s men needed a win to guarantee progression to the quarter finals and looked on course when Stefan Mauk struck in the 66th minute to hand them a 1-0 advantage.
But Uzbekistan hit back with less than 10 minutes remaining and despite mounting a late onslaught the Young Socceroos were unable to fashion a winner.
With the United Arab Emirates securing a comforatble 4-1 win over Indonesia in the other match of Pool B the result in Yangon would dictate who progressed to the last eight.
As it turned out three teams finished the group locked on five points with the Young Socceroos being the unlucky side to miss the quarter-finals on goal difference.
The Young Aussies started the match brightly and controlled possession in the opening 20 minutes without fashioning a clear-cut chance.
Uzbekistan were content to play on the counter attack and had a half chance to open the scoring in the 22nd minute but Australian goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell smothered the danger.
Both teams failed to penetrate in the opening half with the Young Socceroos looking the more likely without seriously threatening to find the net.
Australia came out in the second half with more intent and deservedly took the lead through Melbourne City midfielder Stefan Mauk in the 66th minute.
But the goal seemed to spark Uzbekistan into action and their weight of possession eventually told as they levelled the scores in the 83rd minute.
The Young Socceroos dominated the final stages as they pushed for a late winner but it wasn’t to be for Paul Okon’s U-20 side who bowed out of the tournament due to their inferior goal difference.
"Our performance today shows that sometimes you don't get what you deserve," said Okon after the heart-breaking result.
"Today we deserved to win the match and go through top of the group but we knew the lack of goals in the Indonesia match might come back to haunt us, and it did."
The result means Australia won't be going to the FIFA U-20 World Cup for just the second time since 1989.
Young Socceroos XI: Thurtell (gk), D’Cunha, Alessi, Burgess, Galloway, Gligor, Mauk, De Silva, Mabil, Sotirio, Skapetis