Olympic success a boost for Socceroos

FOOTBALL: The Olyroos’ qualification for this year’s Tokyo Olympics will be a boon for Australian football, coach Graham Arnold says.

The Olyroos held on for a nervy 1-0 win over 10-man Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff at the AFC Under-23 championships to qualify for next year’s Games.

Nicholas D’Agostinho scored a memorable individual goal on Saturday night in Bangkok to secure Australia’s place at their first Olympic tournament in 12 years.

“It is a moment I am never going to forget, and it wasn’t just me, it was a team performance tonight,” the Brisbane Roar striker said.

“We had to fight right until the end and we know as Australia that we have the fight, the talent, and the courage to do a job.

“We are through to the Olympics, we can’t be happier.”

Arnold said the result was also a huge victory for Australian football because Olympic tournaments offered an opportunity to blood young players.

“When you have a great pathway, a great preparation for the Olympics, then it creates six or seven top Socceroo players for the senior national team and that is very important,” he said.

It was the Olyroos’ second chance to qualify for the 2020 Games after they missed their first opportunity with a 2-0 loss to South Korea in Wednesday night’s semi-final.

Proud coach Arnold said his side worked hard to secure Australia’s best finish at the biennial tournament.

“That would 100 per cent be the biggest game of their careers and their lives,” he said after the win.