[Image: Francois Nel/Getty Images]
Queenslander James Donachie and Brisbane Roar teammate Jamie Maclaren fired the Olyroos to a crucial 2-0 win over Vietnam in the AFC U23 Championship overnight.
Donachie, who played his junior football with Logan Lightning before progressing through the ranks at Rochedale Rovers, rifled the Olyroos into a second-minute lead after Vietnam failed to clear from a corner.
The defender went on to help Aurelio Vidmar’s side keep a clean sheet as Maclaren doubled Australia’s advantage with a poacher’s finish on the hour.
Donachie and Maclaren were joined in the starting 11 by fellow Roar star Brandon Borrello, a former star of PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland.
Victory for the Olyroos means another three points over Jordan in the final match of Group D will be enough to advance to the Quarter-Finals and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Speaking after the match to FFA TV, Donachie said the resulted boosted spirits within the camp.
“After the first game I was a bit disappointed but [now] very happy and very confident going into the last game against Jordan we can do it again,” the Sunnybank-born star said.
“It was a much better start than our first game, all the nerves and jitters were out and the boys looked really sharp today.”
The Olyroos’ final group game in Qatar will be held at 2.30am Queensland time on Thursday, 21 January.