Western United youngsters Matthew Grimaldi, Rhys Bozinovski and Abel Walatee made an incredible impact in their debuts for the Olyroos against Vanuatu on Thursday afternoon.
Each in their first camps at Under-23 level, the Green and Black trio were all substituted on together around the hour mark and needed barely 10 minutes to make their presence known.
In the 74th minute of the game, Bozinovski took control of the ball after a scramble in midfield and found Walatee on the right-hand side.
Using his customary strength and athleticism, Walatee rode a challenge and returned the ball to Bozinovski with space to exploit in midfield – and exploit it he did.
Needing only two touches to get the ball out of his feet, Bozinovski looked up and saw Grimaldi making a run in behind off the left wing.
Bozinovski found his Western United teammate with an inch-perfect pass to the split open the Vanuatu defence and send Grimaldi one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The youngster still had plenty to do with a defender retreating and the goalkeeper rushing out in front of him, but with all the coolness of a seasoned professional he tucked away a first-timed finish into the bottom right corner.
Recognising the link-up play they had produced, the United trident came together to celebrate a goal that was built in the Western United Academy.
Bozinovski was one of the first players to earn an Isuzu UTE A-League Men contract out of the Green and Black’s inaugural Academy squad, going on to debut in 2022 and play a key role throughout the Club’s Championship run.
Grimaldi joined the Western United Academy the following year and was an immediate standout, going on to score on his professional debut in the Australia Cup.
The 20-year-old struck five times in the Isuzu UTE A-League, claimed the team’s Young Player of the Season award and signed a new three-year deal at the Club last season.
Walatee will enter his first season as a fully fledged professional footballer after an explosive end to last season which saw him bag his first goal in the penultimate fixture against Perth Glory.
With these and a host of other young superstars in line for big things in the West, John Aloisi’s Isuzu UTE A-League squad is ready to wow the fans at Ironbark Fields this season.
All photos via Damian Briggs/Football Australia
