Marconi Stallions striker Kevo Gulesserian has notched up his first international hat-trick - and more - in Australia's fourth match of the OFC Qualifiers for the World Youth Cup, against host-nation, Cook Islands.
Gulesserian put away seven of the LG Young Socceroos' 13 goals today, with the hot, sunny and windless conditions a stark contrast to yesterday's near cyclonic weather.
Greg Owens started Australia's scoring rout in the third minute, driving the ball home from a Michael Ferrante corner, with Joshua Kennedy notching his first for the tournament a minute later, again from a Ferrante corner.
The 23rd minute mark signaled the start of Gulesserian's assault, the striker following through on an effort by Jade North, which was dropped by the Cook Islands keeper.
Ferrante got his name on the scoreboard in the 28th minute, with Kennedy adding his second a minute later, and Grant Last knocking in from close range to give the LG Young Socceroos a 6-nil lead at half-time.
The Gulesserian show resumed virtually on the whistle of the re-start, the young striker pouncing on a rebound for his second, and then notching up his hat-trick in the 60th minute.
Captain Ljubo Milicevic interrupted the flow in the 67th minute, climbing above the defence to head home a Luke Wilkshire corner, before Gulesserian knocked in the final four goals, including three in the space of three minutes.
"Kevo was at the end of a lot of moves we were making, and he did his job well, being in the right place at the right time, although I believe he could have had three or four more," said coach Ange Postecoglou after the game.
"As I predicted yesterday, the ground was pretty poor and difficult to play on, although the weather conditions were in total contrast to what we experienced yesterday, but I felt the boys backed up well, considering we'd played less than 24 hours before, and I couldn't really ask for anything more.
"Our next and final game is against Vanuatu, and assuming they win later today, that will prove to be our grand final, with whoever winning getting through, so that game will be make or break, the results we've notched up so far won't count for much if we don't win that game, but I think we'll be OK." Postecoglou concluded.