Four Jets players featured in the Young Socceroos’ 3-1 loss to the Netherlands U-21 team over the weekend.
Four Newcastle Jets players featured in the Young Socceroos- 3-1 loss to the Netherlands U-21 team in an international friendly at the Univé Stadium over the weekend.
Josh Brillante, Connor Chapman and Adam Taggart all started the match, while Andrew Hoole came on as a second-half substitute.
With the Young Socceroos trailing 3-0 late in the contest, Taggart had a deflected shot desperately cleared off the line by a Dutch defender.
Taggart was replaced in the 77th minute as part of a double substitution that saw Hoole take the field.
The Broadmeadow Magic junior had an immediate impact, firing a shot just wide of the goal after latching on to a ball over the top from Daniel Da Silva.
Hoole then forced the Dutch goalkeeper into making a sharp reflex save with a powerful shot from just inside the box. The rebound fell to Jamie Maclaren who knocked the ball home from close range to make it 3-1.
Both Brillante and Chapman got through a full 90 minutes for the Young Socceroos.
After the match, Young Socceroos coach Paul Okon said he was very proud of his team-s efforts considering the quality of the opposition.
“Our preparation for Turkey basically started on Tuesday when we had the full squad together for the first time since the AFC Championships last November,” said Okon
“The opportunity to play a world class football nation was fantastic and the players can be proud of their efforts.
“The first half we were a bit nervous and some mistakes cost us goals which we need to eliminate out of our game leading into the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
“We addressed some of these issues at half time and the players responded and the second half was exceptional outplaying Holland for most of the half.
“The only disappointing thing was that we failed to convert the 1-on-1 opportunities we had to score more goals. The goal we scored was a just reward for the players- hard work and effort.
“Now we continue our camp in Cyprus where we will play another top country in Germany.”
The Qantas Young Socceroos will now travel to Cyprus where they will play the German U-21 Men-s National Team at Paralimni Stadium on Friday 31 May.
