The rain poured as talented footballers continued to shine on day five of the 2025 Emerging Socceroos Championships.
Northern NSW Football ended day five with two wins and one loss.
The under-15s kicked off their day against Malaysia as both teams looked to avoid playing a second match in the afternoon.
Malaysia opened up the scoring for the day in the sixth and 11th minutes with two goals at the near post.
NNSWF pushed themselves to add their name to the scoreboard but went into half-time trailing 2-0.
Joel Barton netted the under-15s first of the day in the 50th minute, quickly followed by Zac Zigic in the 55th minute.
They continued to search for the winner, and it looked like the moment would come when Malaysia’s goalkeeper was shown a straight red card after he powerfully slid into Jack Middleby outside of the box.
NNSWF were unable to convert the free kick, and the sides remained locked at 2-2 and sent to penalties.
Charlie Gibson stepped up for NNSWF to take the first penalty and calmly slotted it into the goal before Malaysia netted their first.
Middleby netted NNSWF’s second but the sides still could not be separated when Malaysia scored their second.
Archie Anthony was denied by Malaysia’s goalkeeper but NNSWF’s man between the sticks Nicholas Hair denied Malaysia’s third.
Malaysia’s keeper continued his form and denied Barton, while Hair got a hand to their fourth goal, but it bounced into the net.
Zac Zigic stepped up and hoped to score NNSWF’s third goal but was denied and Malayisa walked away with a 2(3)-2(2) win.
The under-16s entered day five ready to showcase their perseverance and walked away with a 2-0 victory over Capital Football.
Capital Football came out firing, but NNSWF immediately adapted and worked overtime in defence to absorb attacking pressure.
They looked to open the scoring in the 10th minute but were denied by goalkeeper Jett Manulat.
The two sides could not be separated despite consistent efforts and went into half-time locked up 0-0.
Sam Proctor opened the scoring for the under-16s after he headed the ball into the back of the net following a scrap in front of the goal in the 37th minute.
They did not have to wait long for their second goal when Dawson Maher launched the ball into the goal from just inside the box in the 47th minute.
Kai Thompson looked to add a third to the tally in the 50th minute but hit the crossbar.
Thompson continued to push and netted a goal in the 51st minute but was ruled offside.
NNSWF could not add another to the scoreboard but walked away with a 2-0 victory and hunger to end the tournament with a win on day six.
They will face South Australia in the fifth and sixth playoff tomorrow morning.
The under-15s returned to the field for the final time of the tournament and looked to end it on a positive note when they went head-to-head with Football Victoria Silver.
The match was end-to-end from the start as both teams looked to net the first goal of the afternoon.
Eamon Gallard and Barton built attacking pressure as both players had fantastic shots on target but were ultimately denied by Victoria Silver’s goalkeeper.
The two sides could not be separated and went into half-time locked 0-0.
Archie Kellett broke the deadlock in the 35th minute after he was able to find the back of the net.
NNSWF looked to hold on and end the tournament on a high note, but momentum changed when Football Victoria Silver were awarded a penalty.
Hair got a hand to the ball as Football Victoria Silver launched it into the goal, but it ultimately bounced in and equalised the sides.
As pressure-built Payton Wheeler made a fantastic tackle and denied Football Victoria Silver the chance to take the lead.
The two sides remained locked at 1-1 and the under-15s went to their second penalty shootout of the day.
Zigic stepped up for NNSWF’s first penalty and calmly slotted it into the goal after being denied earlier in the day.
Hair remained in goals for the penalty shootout and saved Football Victoria Silver’s first attempt.
Gibson, Gallard and Wheeler all found the back of the net while Football Victoria Silver netted their next three attempts.
Ashriq Nur Rizal was denied by Football Victoria Silver’s goalkeeper before Barton and Toby Man slotted their attempts.
Hair stepped up and saved his third penalty of the day when he rejected Football Victoria Silver’s seventh attempt and won his side their final game of the tournament 2(6)-2(5).
The under-15s finished the tournament in 11th place.
NNSWF’s Talent Development Officer Brett Angell was pleased with the under-15s comeback and looked forward to the under-16s final match tomorrow.
“I think the under-15s would have preferred to win the penalty shootout this morning, but they got their own back with the second penalty shootout win which they should be proud of,” Angell said.
“I thought the under-16s did really well today, it was a very comprehensive victory and they look really good going into tomorrow.
“Hopefully tomorrow they can finish it off and end fifth which would be an improvement on last year.”
Day Six Fixtures:
Under-16s
Northern NSW v South Australia
Friday 11 July, 10am
Home of the Matildas, Field 2
More on the Emerging Socceroos Championships
CLICK HERE to view the Official Emerging Socceroos Championships Digital Program with Fixtures
CLICK HERE to watch* the Emerging Socceroos Championships thanks to Kommunity TV (*subscription required)
CLICK HERE to view the live tables and results
