Thirty-two teams have been reduced to eight as the elimination stage of the National Youth Championships 2024 Boys' Tournament unfolded in Wollongong, NSW.
The Quarter-Finals featured eight thrilling matches that included penalty shootouts, sizzling free kicks and come from behind victories.
It was a day of upsets in the Under-16 Age Group, as all the second-place teams from the group stages eliminated their first-place opponents.
The remaining teams will now compete in the Semi-Finals, with the winners advancing to Sunday's Finals to vie for the title of National Champions.
Semi-Finalists Confirmed
Semi-Final action is just around the corner, with all games taking place tomorrow (Saturday, 20 July) at WIN Stadium from 9:00am to 1:15pm AEST.
In the Under-15 Age Group, Victoria Blue (1st, Group A), NSW Metro Navy (1st, Group B), Victoria White (1st, Group C), and South Australia (1st, Group D) have all progressed to the Semi-Finals.
The opening match at 9:00am AEST will be an all-Victorian affair as Victoria Blue takes on Victoria White. At 10:25am AEST, South Australia will face NSW Metro Navy to determine the two Under-15 finalists.
In the Under-16 Age Group, Victoria Blue (2nd, Group A), Queensland White (2nd, Group B), NSW Metro Sky (2nd, Group C), and Northern NSW (2nd, Group D) are the Semi-Finalists.
Northern NSW and Queensland White will compete in the first Under-16 Semi-Final at 11:50am AEST. The reigning premiers, Victoria Blue will then take on NSW Metro Sky at 1:15pm AEST in a heavyweight clash.
Northern NSW's last-minute comeback
Northern NSW staged a remarkable comeback to defeat NSW Metro White 3-2 in a thrilling Under-16 Quarter-Final at WIN Stadium.
With only 15 minutes left on the clock, NSW Metro White seemed to have the match under control with a two-goal lead. However, Northern NSW's determination shone through as Max Wettig found the back of the net, sparking an electrifying comeback.
The match turned on its head when Oliver Cockle scored to tie the game, before a penalty was awarded to Northern NSW with just four minutes remaining. Dash Baker calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, securing a place in the Semi-Finals for his team.
Northern NSW Head Coach Damian Zane praised his team for their resilience and fighting spirit.
"We just showed the fight that our federation and our town is all about," Zane said.
"We needed a bit of incentive to go ahead with it. Once we got that first goal, I thought we regained some control and streamed forward.
"We'll go and recover and get ready for tomorrow. I told the boys after our first performance against NSW Country that if we can replicate that for 60 minutes, we can beat anyone. This was a good step towards that," Zane concluded.
South Australia putting their best foot forward
Spectators at JJ Kelly Park were treated to a thrilling penalty shootout that saw South Australia defeat Queensland Maroon 2-2 (5-4) in the Under-15 Age Group.
South Australia fought back from a two-goal deficit, leveling the scores with only two minutes remaining against a 10-man Queensland Maroon side that battled valiantly despite being down a player for most of the match following a red card.
As the South Australian team prepares for their Semi-Final tomorrow, Head Coach Will Plush emphasised that results are just a bonus for his side.
"It wasn't so much about getting the win or how it ended up, it was just the way that we stuck to our guns and kept trying," Plush said.
"Under difficult circumstances and under pressure, I thought we were fantastic, and they did themselves and the state really proud.
"A successful trip to Wollongong for us is to play our way and put our best foot forward. I want to really show what each individual player can do, and they're doing that regardless of whether we make the semis. It's the way that we're playing that is making the coaching staff and the state proud," Plush concluded.
Mate v Mate in all NSW clash
The battle for New South Wales unfolded at WIN Stadium as NSW Metro Navy and NSW Metro Sky faced off, pitting friends and club teammates against each other.
NSW Metro Sky emerged victorious, winning the Under-16 bout 3-1 with two second-half goals that proved insurmountable for the determined NSW Metro Navy side.
For NSW Metro Sky Head Coach Spencer Prior, a former English Premier League player (1998-2007) and Socceroos' Assistant Coach (2011-2013), the match presented an interesting challenge for his squad.
"That was just a bunch of mates fighting it out on a football pitch, to be honest with you," Prior said.
"Both teams have done really well to be here. In fact, all three NSW teams have done great to get to the quarter-final stage, but it was a scrappy game and hopefully, it's a better performance tomorrow."
"They all train together and play together, whether it's in school or clubs. So, we never wanted a situation where we had to play each other so early in the knockout stage.
"But they're good footballers, and they're all still developing and want to get better. If we can support them on that journey, that is the important part," Prior concluded.
More on the 2024 National Youth Boys' Championships:
CLICK HERE to view the Official National Youth Championships 2024 Boys' Tournament Digital Program with Fixtures
CLICK HERE to watch* the National Youth Championships 2024 Boys' Tournament thanks to Kommunity TV (*subscription required)
CLICK HERE to view the live tables and results
