The Subway Australian U-23s proved too strong for a valiant Vanuatu in the first match of the PacificAus Sports Football Series in Port Vila, running out 3-0 victors.
Australia dominated possession and chances in the opening exchanges, but Vanuatu nearly stunned the visitors on the counter attack in the 18th minute. Captain Johnathan Spokeyjack burst free down the left flank and cut the ball back for Tonly Kalotang, whose effort skewed narrowly wide of the far post.
Vanuatu broke again in the 29th minute, as Godine Tenene embarked on a flashy solo run and threaded a pass in behind for Kalotang, but Hayden Matthews raced back in time to block the effort on goal.
Australia should have taken the lead in the 37th minute, as a blocked shot from Adrian Segecic fell to Ethan Alagich on the penalty spot, who unleashed a thunderous right-footed drive that smashed against the crossbar.
The deadlock was finally broken 5 minutes later, after Segecic played a first-time pass to a galloping Jed Drew, who cushioned the ball into the path of striker Nathanael Blair. The Perth Glory striker's powerful shot from just inside the area could only be parried by goalkeeper Dick Sablan, and the rebound fell kindly for Blair, who calmly slotted home at the second time of asking.
And Australia almost made it two in first half stoppage time, after Blair won a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Drew struck the dead ball beautifully, and his curler looked destined for the top corner, only to cannon off the underside of the crossbar.
Head coach Tony Vidmar made a double change at the break, with Ethan Cox replacing captain Patrick Beach between the sticks, and Justin Vidic coming on for the goalscorer Blair.
After rattling the woodwork to end the first half, Drew turned provider in the second.
The Macarthur winger's mazy run down the right took him infield, and he displayed superb vision to pick out Clayton Taylor with an in-swinging left-footed cross.
Timing his run to perfection to beat the Vanuatu offside trap, Taylor glanced his header beyond a stranded Sablan and into the far corner to double Australia's lead.
Vidmar made a quadruple change midway through the second half, and three of his substitutes linked up to net Australia's third - a goal with a distinctly Western United flavour.
Abel Walatee won the ball in midfield for Rhys Bozinovski, who measured a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the Vanuatu backline. Matthew Grimaldi didn't need to take a touch, coolly rolling the ball home into the bottom right corner.
"They were a pretty tough and resilient opponent," said Vidmar after the game.
"The players had the belief and that trust in themselves that the longer the game went, we would create chances, and that's what we did.
"From the starting XI, nine players debuted for the U23s, and then another three [debutants] came in from the bench, so it was excellent exposure for them."
With an even larger and more vocal home crowd expected for Sunday's rematch, Vidmar is excited for the challenge ahead.
"If they'd scored, I imagine the grandstand roof would have come flying off. They were making some noise, so I expect it to be really intimidating and a really fun experience for the guys."
The Subway Australian U-23s will face Vanuatu again at Freshwater Stadium on Sunday, 8 September (3pm local, 2pm AEST).
MATCH DETAILS
Vanuatu 0
Australia 3 (Blair 37', Taylor 62', Grimaldi 74')
Date: Thursday, 5 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, C, 12. Ethan Cox HT), 5. Kasey BOS, 7. Jed DREW (17. Abel WALATEE 65'), 8. Ethan ALAGICH, 10. Adrian SEGECIC (21. Jordi VALADON 65'), 11. Clayton TAYLOR (Matthew GRIMALDI 65'), 13. Hayden MATTHEWS, 14. Nathanael BLAIR (9. Justin VIDIC HT), 15. Nathan PAULL, 20. Panashe MADANHA, 23. Oscar PRIESTMAN (Rhys BOZINOVSKI 65')
Subs not used: 2. Aidan SIMMONS, 3. Josh RAWLINS, 4. Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 18. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 22. Yaya DUKULY
Yellow card: Matthews 78'
Red card: Nil
