The LG Young Socceroos have taken out Group 2 action at the Oceania Qualifiers for the World Youth Cup, setting up a meeting with New Zealand over two-legs, to decide Oceania's Representative at the tournament, which will be held in Argentina, in June.
The Australian Under-20s met Vanuatu today, and while both teams went into the final day's play undefeated, the Australian attack, which had netted 42 goals to date, proved too much for the Vanuatuan team.
Midfielder Michael Ferrante got the scoring under-way in the 18th minute, curling the ball around the keeper from just outside the area to give the LG Young Socceroos a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Nick Carle made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute, Ahmad Elrich extended the lead ten minutes later, with Greg Owens wrapping up the scoring in the 80th minute, to give the Australian Under-20s a 4-0 victory, and passage through to the next phase of qualification.
"Vanuatu was a good side and a tough test, although in saying that, we did win fairly comfortably in the end," said coach Ange Postecoglou after the game.
"We played pretty well, especially in the second half, where we scored three and could have scored three or four more, but overall, looking at the tournament I couldn't be happier, we couldn't have done too much more, we won the Fair Play Award, and it's been great preparation for the next phase.
"New Zealand will be tough, and will be a step up from the opposition that we've faced here, so we'll need to step up to a higher level, but on our performances so far, I believe the signs are very good for us." Postecoglou concluded.