Australia coach Martyn Crook is concerned about the number of players who picked up injuries in their bruising encounter with China.TASHKENT – Coach Martyn Crook was counting the cost of Australia’s 2-1 victory over China on Tuesday at the AFC U-16 Championship which secured a place in the quarter-finals but saw key players suffering injuries.
Kamal Ibrahim struck a superb 50th minute winner after Jared Lum’s early spot kick had been cancelled out by Jin Jingdao’s penalty just before the break.
But Lum was withdrawn in the first half through illness, striker Eli Babalj left at half-time with an ankle injury and influential captain Brendan Hamill was stretchered off with 17 minutes remaining after suffering a recurrence of an ankle ligament injury.
Both Babalj and Hamill left the stadium on crutches and are concerns for Thursday’s final Group C game against Turkmenistan and Sunday’s quarter-final.
“The captain is the biggest concern as he is very serious and he is an important player. Eli has an ankle injury and we are not sure of the extent of that and Jared had to come off through illness. But it’s a tournament and we have a good squad,” said Crook.
“Brendan has been recovering from ligament damage to his ankle for the last five weeks and we got him right. He did have a little knock before the tournament and scared us a little bit, but now it looks like it has gone big time.
“It would be a huge loss for us as he is a great leader, a great player. I hope he is OK, but it doesn’t look too good.”
Crook conceded his side produced a below-par first half display and was pleased to come through the contest with an improved second half performance despite not reaching the levels as seen in the 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia.
“We are delighted to come through with three points against a quality opposition, it was a battle,” he added. “Our goal was to get through to the quarter-finals and we have done that so that is excellent.”
China coach Zhang Ning was left to rue his side’s disappointing start to the second half.
“I think we played better in the first half than in the second as we conceded a goal very early and that created a lot of pressure and made the players nervous. But they are young and that happens,” he said.
“We also need to improve physically, be stronger and the players need to learn how to use their body better.”
Source:The AFC.com
