Melbourne City talent Nathaniel Atkinson became just the third Tasmanian to skipper a national side as he led the Young Socceroos to their first win of the AFC under-19 championships on Monday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Taking the captain’s armband from Ajax talent Seb Pasquali (illness), the 19-year-old former Riverside Olympic star lined up in the midfield and collected an assist in a 2-1 win over Vietnam in Indonesia.
After Ante Milicic’s side went one up through Angus Thurgate in the 37th minute, Atkinson helped seal victory late in the second half by finding Ipswich Town’s Ben Folami on the left wing, who duly tucked it past the Vietnamese keeper.
An 85th minute consolation could not stop Vietnam being eliminated from Group C, with Australia ensuring it will need just one point from its final group stage match against Jordan on Thursday to reach the final eight.
Atkinson, who missed City’s Melbourne derby win in the A-League’s opening round last weekend, played the full 90 minutes for the second game running.
He has completed 72 passes in 85 attempts in his first two outings.
FFT MOVEMENT
Anthony Alexander has departed Football Federation Tasmania for a new role in Queensland.
Alexander joined FFT in 2010 and was appointed head of Northern technical programs and National Development Centre head coach in 2016.
He will join Magpies Crusaders United as technical director, having spent the past two years as FFT’s assistant technical director.