Maltz becomes a constant starter for Joeys

By SHANE DESIATNIK

The Australian Joeys rose to the challenge at last week’s 2025 U17 boys’ AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuwait by topping their group to secure a spot in the big tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia in April.

Jay Maltz, a Moriah College student and Sydney FC Academy member, earned a start in all three games and was one of only four players in head coach Brad Maloney’s squad of 23 to play every second. It was a show of faith in the midfielder’s talent and growth within the team since he made his Joeys’ debut in July, gaining valuable game time when Australia won the 2024 ASEAN U16 boys’ football championships in Indonesia, followed by a successful tour of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

In Kuwait, the Joeys had an easy task first-up when they thumped the Northern Mariana Islands 19-0—a game in which Maltz scored one goal and was part of several others.

Up against a much tougher opponent in game two last Saturday—the host nation—the Joeys needed another win to ensure they finished in the top two in Group G. A first-place finish would earn automatic advancement, while only the five best second-placed sides in the 10 groups would also qualify.

The Joeys were up 1-0 at halftime in a very physical contest that saw the referee issue 13 yellow cards. The Aussie boys doubled their lead in the 85th minute, and both teams scored a goal each in added time for a 3-1 result in the Joeys’ favour.

In their last match the following night, the Joeys and Indonesia drew 0-0, which saw both nations finish on 7 competition points to top their group, but the Aussies were ahead on net goal difference (+21 compared to Indonesia’s +11).

Maltz told The AJN before departing Kuwait on Monday, “It was great for the boys and I to get the [two] wins and top the group. Since the start of the campaign, our main objective is to play in a World Cup, and qualifying for the U17 Asian Cup in 2025 gets us one step closer.”

Source: AJN