EN
Qualifiers - Group D: Australia 14-0 Northern Mariana Islands; China PR 2-1 Timor-Leste

Qualifiers - Group D: Australia 14-0 Northern Mariana Islands; China PR 2-1 Timor-Leste

Xi’an: Australia opened their AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers Group D campaign with a resounding 14-0 win over Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday. 
China PR, meanwhile, defeated Timor-Leste 2-1 to start their qualification bid on the front foot.  
Australia 14-0 Northern Mariana Islands
Australia took the lead in the sixth minute through Nathanael Blair with Jing Lual then striking in the 10th and 13th minutes to put the Olyroos firmly in control. 
image content
Ethan Alagich added the fourth with a 17th minute finish with Blair grabbing his second of the evening in the 21st minute.

Yaya Dukuly etched his name on the scoresheet in the 36th minute followed by Alagich doubling his tally a minute before the half-time whistle.
image content
Blair completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute before adding another two minutes later.
 
Northern Mariana Islands fell further behind on the hour mark to Rhys Bozinovski’s strike before goals from Joshua Rawlins (66th), Dukuly (75th), Rawlins again (77th) and Aydan Hammond (90+11) sealed the comprehensive victory.
China PR 2-1 Timor-Leste
image content
Timor-Leste held off China PR’s advances for as long as they could before Behram Abduweli broke the shackles in the 41st minute, with Zhejiang FC midfielder Wang Yudong then doubling their advantage on the stroke of half-time.
image content
Timor-Leste reduced the deficit in the second half with Luís Figo setting up Paulo Gali in the 52nd minute but the equaliser eluded them as China PR hung on to seal the win.

China PR will seek a second win when they meet Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday while Timor-Leste will aim to bounce back with a win against Australia.

Related News

  1. Qualifiers - Matchday One: Results & Reports
    AFC U23 Asian Cup

    Qualifiers - Matchday One: Results & Reports

  2. Qualifiers - Group A: Turkmenistan 5-1 Chinese Taipei; Jordan 11-0 Bhutan
    AFC U23 Asian Cup

    Qualifiers - Group A: Turkmenistan 5-1 Chinese Taipei; Jordan 11-0 Bhutan

  3. Qualifiers - Group B: Kuwait 0-0 Myanmar; Japan 3-0 Afghanistan
    AFC U23 Asian Cup

    Qualifiers - Group B: Kuwait 0-0 Myanmar; Japan 3-0 Afghanistan

  4. Qualifiers - Group C: Yemen 2-1 Singapore; Vietnam 2-0 Bangladesh
    AFC U23 Asian Cup

    Qualifiers - Group C: Yemen 2-1 Singapore; Vietnam 2-0 Bangladesh

  5. Qualifiers - Group F: Malaysia 0-1 Lebanon; Thailand 6-0 Mongolia
    AFC U23 Asian Cup

    Qualifiers - Group F: Malaysia 0-1 Lebanon; Thailand 6-0 Mongolia

Item 1 of 5