Josep Gombau’s Australian U23s will play in next January’s 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China after topping their group in qualification in Myanmar overnight.
Australia topped Group F without conceding a single goal in three matches, beating hosts Myanmar 3-0 thanks to goals from Bruce Kamau, captain Jonathon Aspropotamitis and Jaushua Sotirio in Yangon on Sunday.
In their third and final game in the group, Australia showed their class again with incisive play down the flanks again key to this win in front of a huge crowd at the Thuwanna Stadium in Yangon.
Kamau’s early goal was a good example – the Melbourne City striker’s header courtesy of the excellent Sotirio’s cross.
This early strike helped take the crowd out of the equation but Myanmar showed plenty to suggest this would be Australia’s toughest game in the group.
Wanderers’ defender Aspropotamitis’ fortuitous header adding a second before the break and his club teammate Sotirio with the third in the second half.
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GOALS
Bruce Kamau 6′ 1-0
Jonathan Aspro 32′ 2-0
Jaushua Sotirio 58′ 3-0
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THE GROUP
The win means Australia now tops Group F with a 100% record. Australia have won all three games scoring 12 times and conceding zero. Previous two group games: a 2-0 win over Brunei Darussalam and a 7-0 win over Singapore.
Myanmar finished second in the group on six points, Singapore third on three and Brunei Darussalam bottom with zero points.
