Joeys claim Ivorian scalp

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21 June 2011-SBS

Star .. Tombides in action against the Ivorians (Getty)

Australia recorded a 2-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire in its FIFA U-17 World Cup Group F opener in Guadalajara, with Dylan Tombides scoring the winner.

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The Ivorians led on 18 minutes when Souleymane Coulibaly made Joeys defender Tom King pay for a defensive error.

After an average first-half, Australia looked a different side in the second stana and was rewarded with an equaliser.

Midfielder Jesse Makarounes on target for the Aussies in the 51st minute with a cracking 25-yard left-foot volley capping off a neat exchange with Hernan Espindola.

West Ham forward Tombides netted the decisive goal on 77 minutes, beating a defender on the edge of the box before firing a low shot into the right hand corner of Yored Konate's goal.

“If you look at the game, Côte d’Ivoire were absolutely the better team. What I can say is that my teams worked very hard and played as a unit," Joeys coach Jan Verleijen told FIFA.com.

The few chances that we got, we took full advantage of them. Normally, if you play a game like we played against a team like the Ivorians, you would lose.”

"In the second half, especially the first part, we pressed a little more high on the pitch and were patient on the ball and we got a bit lucky, the chances we got we scored," Verleijen told SBS.

"Winning the first group stage game is important but we still have two very tough games to go."

Joeys line-up: 1. Paul IZZO, 2. Jake MONACO (21. Riley WOODCOCK 46'), 3. Connor CHAPMAN (C), 4. Tom KING, 5. Corey BROWN, 6. Yianni PERKATIS (14. Milos DEGENEK 67'), 7. Hernan ESPINDOLA (13.Teeboy KAMARA 65'), 8. Mitch COOPER, 9. Dylan TOMBIDES, 10. Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 17. Jacob MELLIN.

Australia next faces Brazil on 24 June AEST, with the South American giant top of the group after a 3-0 win over Denmark in its opener.