The NMI U17 Men’s National Team members pose for a group photo before their match against Australia in the Asian Football Confederation U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers at the Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium in Salmiya, Kuwait on Thursday, CNMI time.
NMI U17 Men’s National Team members Nolan Ngewakl and Mark Costales battle for possession against Australia during their debut match in the Asian Football Confederation U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers at the Abdullah Al Khalifa Stadium in Salmiya, Kuwait on Thursday, CNMI time.
THE NMI U17 Men’s National Team was given a reality check in their opening game at the Asian Football Confederation U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers after they were trounced by Australia, 19-0, in Kuwait on Thursday, CNMI time.
It was a very tough match for Team NMI as Australia’s goals accumulated quickly.
Australia quickly established control by scoring its first goal just four minutes into the match. The NMI tried to stand their ground, but it did not take long before more goals rained down on them.
Australia’s Anthony Didulica led the way with five goals while teammates Max Anastasio, Quinn Macnicol, Amlani Tatu, Alexander Garbowski, Nickolas Alfaro, Jay Maltz, and Max Naylor also chipped in.
In a media release, the NMI Football Association said: “Our boys fought hard and defended against many of Australia’s attacks. It was clear to see how they worked together as a team, giving their all despite the nerves that came with their first game of the tournament. Looking ahead, we’ll focus on resetting and recovering. Thank you all for your incredible support! We wouldn’t be here without you, and we truly appreciate it. We know there will be another challenging opponent, so let’s wish our boys luck!”
The NMI’s next match will be against Indonesia on Saturday at 12:30 a.m., Saipan time.
On Thursday, Indonesia beat Kuwait, 1-0.
