NI schoolboys share spoils with Australia
Northern Ireland have their goalkeeper Jack Duffin to thank for drawing this game against Australia.
The St Malachy's pupil who is on Cliftonville's books made a truly miraculous save at point blank range in added time with his grateful colleagues running over to congratulate him for saving them from defeat.
Northern Ireland's teens, in their first game together had made a somewhat tentative start with the young Aussies testing Duffin early on with a dipping free-kick from Jackie Markham from twenty-five yards but the keeper caught it cleanly.
The home side 's first real chance came in the 18th minute when Marcus Kane who plays for Linfield made a good run down the left flank but his shot hit the side netting. But a minute later Aussie Mitchell Robinson made an equally decisive push into the Northern Ireland penalty area but his finish let him down the ball going well wide.
And another chance for the visitors two minutes later when Devon Gibson breached the unconvincing Northern Ireland defence but when one-to-one on the keeper Duffin managed to parry his shot at close range and it was scrambled away to safety.
But in the 24th minute Northern Ireland went in front when Kane slammed the ball past Aussie keeper Todd Ross after an initial shot from Shane Jennings had been cleared off the line . And with Bob Ramsey's side now settling and gaining in confidence right fired one in from the touch-line area which just shaved the cross-bar.
The Aussie had an ace card up their sleeve and introduced Ian Kamau for the second half, and he supplied the cross for Bendan McClean to equalise 17 minutes from the end.
Northern Ireland: Duffin, Crown, Hughes, Devlin, Oliver, McBride, Burns (Smith, 75) Coyle (Winchester, 55), Jennings (Boylan, 65), Deane, Kane
Australia: Ross, Gearin, Mansueto, Witherdin, Markham, Holt, Robinson, McClean, Gibson, Violi, Ross
Referee: Simon Creaney
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Monday 13 February 2012
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