Olyroos Face South Korea in Second U23 Friendly

The CommBank Olyroos will hope to bounce back in game two in Gosford after narrow 2-1 defeat to Korea Republic on Saturday afternoon.

The young squad played well against largely 2005-born opposition and a repeat performance could see a change in result on Tuesday evening.

Last Time Out

Korea Republic defeated the CommBank Olyroos 2-1 on Saturday. Jeong-Woo Ha and Do-Young Yoon were the goalscorers for Korea Republic, either side of an own goal forced by Medin Memeti.

Both teams had a number of opportunities and Trevor Morgan, who is overseeing the program during this window, heaped praise on a number of players.

"I thought Medin Memeti was great. I think Di Pizio, Quintal, et cetera, did very, very well," Morgan said.

"I'll definitely look back at some of the decision-making on the ball. But I just think we need to be quicker. The Koreans showed us the level. They showed us how hard they're going to press, how hard they're going to fight.

"I think we have to raise our level with the ball, be a little bit calmer at times and control the tempo better."

The Squad

The Olyroos squad will have two changes from game one to game two. Joshua Inserra and Franco Lino departed camp after the game, and have been replaced by Jesse Cameron (Sutherland Sharks) & Sebastian Duarte (Wollongong Wolves). Both Cameron and Duarte have been involved in the Talent Development Scheme program.

The group ranges widely in ages, from 17-year-olds all the way to 21-year-olds.

"I have a lot of belief in the boys in the change room," Morgan said.

"We brought a lot of talent to this room, and I think they'll adjust before the next game. They'll speed up a few little things."

"I would like to think that people got excited about a few moments in the game and started to get excited about Australian football, and I think we need to do more of it. There were young kids here watching the game, and hopefully it inspires them to want to be better footballers."

Players to Watch

Tiago Quintal

Quintal has had an eye-catching preseason at club level, scoring a hattrick in the Hahn Australia Cup against Bayswater City and becoming the youngest player to do so for Sydney FC in the process. The 20-year-old attacker was part of the squad that won the AFC U-20 Asian Cup last year and will hope to continue that international success in a new cycle at U23 level.

Amlani Tatu

The 18-year-old South Australian almost provided the moment of the match in game one, with a rocket of a free kick cannoning off the crossbar. The delivery inevitably sparked comparisons with Nestory Irankunda, who converted his own free kick in the CommBank Matildas games against the Socceroos. The youngster is set to have a breakout season in the A-League Men's for Adelaide United and will hope to continue to impress on the international stage on Tuesday.

What They Said

Trevor Morgan

I'll definitely look back at some of the decision-making on the ball. But I just think we need to be quicker. The Koreans showed us the level. They showed us how hard they're going to press, how hard they're going to fight. I think we have to raise our level with the ball, be a little bit calmer at times and control the tempo better.