The CommBank Pararoos have fallen to the USA in their opening match of the IFCPF Men’s World Cup 2024 succumbing to a 5-0 defeat.
On a sunny Spain morning, Will McGrath and Giacomo Izzo made their international debuts for the CommBank Pararoos with Rafferty Bacon, Luc Launder and Kaylan Van Heer also making their World Cup debuts.
One year of preparation and training finally came to fruition as the CommBank Pararoos took to the pitch at Fubol Salou for their first match of the World Cup against the World Number 4 ranked US side.
Both teams showed plenty of spirit in the opening exchanges with heavy contact suggesting a tough and physical 60 minutes awaited the players.
The goal keepers were reduced to onlookers for most of the first half as the action played out in the middle of the pitch and the defensive systems of both sides refused to faulter.
The decisive moment came across a two-minute period where the USA scored two goals in quick succession to gain control of the match.
The USA attack broke through the Australian backline to score the opener in the 22nd minute before quickly doubling up in the 24th minute, somehow managing to find the net despite the green and gold jerseys surrounding them.
The CommBank Pararoos came out of the sheds in the second half with permission to attack and threatened the USA goals on multiple occasions early in the second stanza.
Will McGrath almost scored off a long ball from Alessandra La Verghetta in his debut match before a crafty set piece from the corner delivered by Kaylan Van Heer in his World Cup debut, found the head of Augustine Murphy who nearly found the top corner.
Unfortunately for the CommBank Pararoos, the patterns of the first half repeated themselves as the USA scored a further two goals in two minutes to secure the victory mid-way through the second half.
The CommBank Pararoos will now face Thailand at 12.00pm CET (10.00pm AEDT) on Wednesday 13 November in what shapes as a must-win match.
Match Summary
Australia: 0
USA: 5 (11. Nick Mayhugh 22’, 4. Wesley Pincince 24’, 3. Jacob Crumbley 41’, 3. Jacob Crumbley 42’, 12. Chileshe Chatulangoma 60+1’)
Australia: 7. David Barber (C), 3. Kaylan Van Heer (2. Rafferty Bacon 46’), 4. Alessandro La Verghetta (9. Luc Launder 46’), 5. Daniel Campbell (11. Jeremy Boyce 53’), 12. William McGrath (6. Giacomo Izzo 46’), 13. Taj Lynch, 14. Augustine Murphy (10. Ben Roche 53’).
Substitutes not used: 8. Christian Bitsikas, 1. Christian Tsangas.
Yellow Card: 9. Luc Launder 49’
USA: 1. Marc Estrella, 2. Frankie Lowery (7. Shea Hammond 47’), 3. Jacob Crumbley (12. Chileshe Chitulangoma 47’), 4. Wesley Pincince, 5. John Sullivan, 10. Ben Lindau, 11. Nick Mayhugh (9. Cameron DeLillo 57’, 14. Gavin Kohner 60+1).
Substitutes not used: 6. Jacob Kaplan, 8. Michael Ruiz, 13. Kyle Montgomery
Yellow Card: 2. Frankie Lowery 29’
