Goal scorer Teddy Yabio (left) tussles with Turkmenistan's Ruslan Kurbanov as Australia rounds off their Group C campaign with a resounding 6-0 victory.TASHKENT – A second-string Australian side scored six unanswered goals as they easily disposed of Turkmenistan in their final Group C match in the AFC U16 Championship at MHSK Stadium on Thursday.
Danai Gapare struck in each half while Ben Kantarovski, Teddy Yabio, Dimitrios Petratos and Marc Warren were also on the mark to ensure they finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins.
Australia coach Martyn Crook retained only captain Warren from the squad that defeated China in the previous match as he made no less than 10 changes to give his reserves the opportunity to feature.
However, it did not affect Australia's performance and they threatened after only 40 seconds when Cameron Edwards shot over the crossbar while Turkmenistan's first chance came in the fifth minute but Vahyt Orazsahedov could not beat Aaron Lennox.
Australia almost broke the deadlock after six minutes when Gapare collected a ball on the right before forging into the area and firing a powerful shot that was pushed away by Turkmenistan goalkeeper Kurbanmurad Karayev.
But they did not have to wait long to take the lead as just one minute later,
Nathan Farrel's corner from the right was deflected by a Turkmenistan defender towards their own goal. Karayev managed to push the ball away but Kantarovski was in the right place at the right time to knock the ball into the net.
Turkmenistan wasted a chance to equalise after 20 minutes when Orazsahedov's good run saw him beat Warren and Bailey Wright before making his way into the area but he shot wide of the right-hand post.
Australia doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Edwards progressed down the right flank before delivering a tempting cross towards Yabio, who managed to find the back of the net despite having the Turkmenistan defence in close attendance.
The Joeys netted their third on the stroke of half-time when Farrel's centre from the left flank was controlled by Gapare on his chest before producing a clinical finish that went in via the left upright.
Australia extended their lead three minutes after the restart as Farrel's long pass picked out Gapare, who evaded Wezirgeldi Ylyasov and scored with a powerful effort from inside the area.
There were more goals to come as Australia added a fifth two minutes after the hour mark when Warren's pass found Petratos and his low finish beat the helpless Karayev.
Warren turned from provider to scorer three minutes later with a powerful shot from distance that seemed would cause no problems for Karayev but the ball hit the underside of the bar and went in.
Source:The AFC.com
