Maltz scores in shootout as Joeys win final

Jay Maltz began the 2024 ASEAN U16 boys’ football championships in Indonesia in late June feeling honoured and excited to be included in the Australian Joeys squad.

Less than a fortnight later, on July 3, the year 10 Moriah College student and Sydney FC Academy member felt absolutely ecstatic, having kicked a crucial penalty shootout goal in the final against Thailand, that helped Australia clinch the title.

It turned out to be the first international trophy won by any male Australian football team since 2019.

Upon arriving back home, Maltz told The AJN that playing for his country “has always been a dream of mine and doing so at such a big tournament was something I have aspired to do for a very long time”.

“When playing for Australia, I made sure I gave everything on the field. Our coach [Brad Maloney] would always say ‘many journeys, one jersey’ – and that’s truly what it felt like.

“We were a bunch of boys from all around Australia, who came together in an international tournament together as a family and won and the key was being united, both on and off the field.”

A talented midfielder, Maltz was picked on the wing for the Joeys, coming off the bench in their opening 0-0 draw with Thailand and their 12-0 thumping of Timor Leste, before starting in Australia’s 2-0 win over Malaysia and their 5-3 semi-final win over Indonesia on July 1.

In the final just two days later, Maltz was shifted back to the bench.

But when scores were locked at 1-1 in the last minute of regular time and with no extra-time period allocated, Maloney told Maltz that he would be one of the Joeys’ first penalty takers in the deciding shootout, in front of a vocal crowd inside Manahan Stadium.

“Obviously this was a proud moment, however it was very scary,” Maltz recalled. “I tried to block everything around me and just focus on myself and the ball.”

At the penalty spot to take Australia’s third attempt, he said he “looked the opposite way to where I kicked, to try to trick the keeper and ultimately it worked”.

“Scoring in a final for my country is a feeling I will never forget.”

Both nations’ goalkeepers saved the opening penalty shots, before seven different players from either side made successful attempts.

At seven shots apiece, Aussie keeper Jai Ajanovic made a brilliant low save and then Joeys captain Jayden Necovski calmly sent the Thai keeper the wrong way, nailing his attempt to get the Aussies home in a nailbiting ending.

“In the final, being calm and having trust in one another to do the job, ultimately allowed us to win,” Maltz said.

“This tournament is hopefully the first of many successful campaigns for myself and the Joeys.

“And I look forward to more opportunities to represent my country, with the 2025 U17 Asian Cup qualifiers to be held this October in Kuwait.”