The Subway Australian U-23s have triumphed 4-0 over Vanuatu in the second and final game of the PacificAus Sports Football Series in Port Vila.

Head coach Tony Vidmar made nine changes to the XI that defeated Vanuatu 3-0 on Thursday, with only defender Nathan Paull and goalkeeper Patrick Beach retaining their places. Aidan Simmons, Josh Rawlins, Kaelan Majekodunmi, Corey Hollman and Yaya Dukuly all made their first appearances of the series, with Rawlins taking the captain’s armband.

The game began in a flurry of activity as Yaya Dukuly won the ball high up the park inside the first 30 seconds, but his cross was cut out by Vanuatu goalkeeper Massing Kalotang. Less than a minute later, a mis-hit pass from Beach fell short of Majekodunmi, and Paull raced across in time to block the shot from Vanuatu skipper Johnathan Spokeyjack.

Australia threatened throughout the first half with a succession of set pieces, and were inches away from an 18th minute lead. Dukuly took a short corner from the right to Simmons, who delivered an arrowed cross to the back post. Nathan Paull rose highest, looping his header back across goal and against the crossbar.

Vanuatu’s best chance of the game came from a 34th minute corner, as Godine Tenene’s in-swinging delivery from the left was helped on at the near post by Michel Coulon. The flick-on deceived Beach, and Jared Clark should have turned his side-footed volley into a near-empty net but failed to strike it cleanly, as the ball skewed off Paull on the goal line.

Australia finally made their dominance count in first-half stoppage time, as Rhys Bozinovski picked Coulon’s pocket near the halfway line. Bozinovski spotted Dukuly overlapping to his right, who cut it back to complete the one-two, and Bozinovski’s side-footed shot bounced beyond the grasp of Kalotang and into the bottom corner.

Justin Vidic should have doubled Australia’s lead on the stroke of halftime, brilliantly knocking the ball around one side of his marker and darting through on the other, but the Newcastle Jets striker could only slide the ball wide of the target from 12 yards out.

Vidmar made a double change at the break, bringing on goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky for his U23 debut, and swapping Paull for Hayden Matthews at the back.

Australia had a golden chance after the hour mark, as Bozinovski once again won the ball high up the park and played in Vidic. The striker was fouled on the edge of the box, and referee Ben Aukwai played advantage as the ball trickled through for Dukuly, but the Adelaide United winger could only shoot straight at Kalotang.

But Australia would finally seal the win with two quickfire goals. Vidic made amends for his earlier miss, after receiving the ball in a congested penalty area. The #9 took three touches to fashion space for the shot, and brilliantly fired across goal and into the far corner from an acute angle. Substitute Matthews swiftly made it three with a thumping header, after Jordi Valadon’s corner was flicked high into the air by Majekodunmi at the front post.

Oscar Priestman added the cherry on top in the 79th minute, after Vidic released Jed Drew on the counter attack. Drew squared the ball for Clayton Taylor, whose initial shot was parried by the Kalotang, but Taylor stretched to knock the rebound away from the goalkeeper’s grasp, and Priestman was left with an unguarded net to slide the ball home.

“I think it was great exposure for the players to come to a different footballing landscape,” said Vidmar after the match. 

“It’s been a really pleasing and worthwhile trip.”

“I’m very excited to see that relationship, that friendship between the two countries going forward,” added Vanuatu head coach Juliano Schmeling.

“We have so much potential here and so much to learn from Australian football.

“Thank you so much to the Australian Government, Football Australia, and the Vanuatu Football Federation for making this happen.”

Match Details

Vanuatu: 0
Australia: 4 (Bozinovski 45+1’, Vidic 69’, Matthews 71’, Priestman 79’) 

Date: Sunday, 8 September 2024
Time: 3.00pm (local) / 2.00pm (AEST) 
Venue: Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Broadcast: YouTube

Referee: Ben AUKWAI (Solomon Islands)

Australia Line-up: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK, 18. Jack WARSHAWSKY HT), 2. Aidan SIMMONS (5. Kasey BOS 58’), 3. Josh RAWLINS, 4. Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 6. Corey HOLLMAN (8. Ethan ALAGICH 58’), 9. Justin VIDIC, 15. Nathan PAULL (13. Hayden MATTHEWS HT), 16. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (23. Oscar PRIESTMAN 69’), 19. Matthew GRIMALDI (7. Jed DREW 69’), 21. Jordi VALADON, 22. Yaya DUKULY (11. Clayton TAYLOR 58’)

Subs not used: 12. Ethan Cox, 10. Adrian SEGECIC, 14. Nathanael BLAIR, 17. Abel WALATEE, 20. Panashe MADANHA

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil