Near cyclonic conditions have failed to dampen Australia's scoring prowess at the OFC Qualifiers for the World Youth Cup in the Cook Islands, with the LG Young Socceroos recording a 6-0 victory over Papua New Guinea, in the rain-delayed rain-soaked third match.
Australia started the scoring in the 11th minute with Lucas Pantelis notching his first goal for the tournament, followed by Patrick Kisnorbo in the 24th minute, the South Melbourne defender heading in from a Michael Ferrante corner.
Scott McDonald added to his tally of five goals from the first game with a solo effort in the 39th minute, rounding three defenders to shoot in from an acute angle, while Ferrante made it 4-0 from the penalty spot three minutes prior to half-time, after captain Nick Carle was brought down in the area.
While conditions worsened in the second half, the LG Young Socceroos continued the scoring, Ahmad Elrich tapping in his first for the tournament in the 62nd minute, with Carle wrapping things up for the 6-nil scoreline in the 65th minute.
"I've never seen anything like what I saw out there today with the torrential rain and howling wind, I was actually surprised that the game went ahead, the Oceania Federation obviously needed the games to be played after yesterday's cancellations, but the conditions were certainly amazing." said coach Ange Postecoglou after the game.
"The boys handled everything really well considering what they were up against, the elements were today's challenge as well as the opponent, and I was really pleased with their effort.
"It would have been easy for them to think it was just too hard but they stuck to their guns and played well, they could have scored 5 or 6 more if not for the conditions, but they did what needed to be done and got through the game unscathed, and that's the main thing.
"I'm told the cyclone which is in the region should be moving on, but I'm anticipating that the ground will be pretty poor for tomorrow's game, we're the first match up and I don't expect a huge change in conditions, the bottom line is that like today, we'll just have to deal with it." Postecoglou concluded.