Glory defender Zach Lisolajski has been named in the Subway Young Socceroos squad for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 Qualifiers to be held in Abha, Saudi Arabia later this month.
The preliminary stage of the U20 continental tournament – which also serves as qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 – comprises 45 teams, divided into 10 groups.
Having been drawn in Group D, the Subway Young Socceroos will play their fixtures out of Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium against Afghanistan, Macau, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, with the ten group winners and five best second-placed teams qualifying for the 42nd edition of the AFC U20 Asian Cup which will be held in China from in February 2025.
Subway Young Socceroos’ Head Coach, Trevor Morgan, is looking forward to the challenge.
“Our planning over the last 12-18 months has been about progressively building depth, experience and belief while refining our style of play ahead of these Qualifiers and ultimately ensuring we’re at the U20 Asian Cup in 2025,” he said.
“The staff see real talent in these players with many progressing into A-League Men squads across the country.
“It’s an exciting group who thoroughly deserve to be in this position.
“The boys have had some fantastic results against difficult opposition recently and we’ve shown what we’re capable of when we play our football – it’s important we now execute that in a tournament-style setting with plenty at stake.
“We know the conditions and the opposition will be tough, especially with so much to play for and securing a result in this type of situation will not only galvanise us as a group, but illustrate the mentality we’ve built throughout this cycle.”
18-year-old Lisolajski joined Glory in July having made his A-League debut for Western United last season and has featured regularly during the club’s Australia Cup and pre-season campaign.
MATCH DETAILS
Afghanistan v Subway Young Socceroos
Monday, 23 September 2024 Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 4.00pm local / 9.00pm WST
Subway Young Socceroos v Macau
Wednesday, 25 September 2024 Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 4.00pm local / 9.00pm WST
Palestine v Subway Young Socceroos
Friday, 27 September 2024 Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 4.00pm local / 9.00pm WST
Subway Young Socceroos v Saudi Arabia
Sunday, 29 September 2024 Prince Sultan Sports City Stadium, Abha
Kick-off: 8.00pm local / 1.00am WST (Monday, 30 September)
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