In the 18th minute a long throw in from Nikolai Topor Stanley was flicked on by Nigel Boogaard to striker Nikita Rukavytsya who headed home to open the scoring.

Troy Hearfield doubled the lead shortly after half-time with a shot from the edge of the box before substitute James Troisi completed the scoring for the Qantas Under 23s in the 74th minute with a well placed left-footed strike to the bottom left corner of the goal.

Qantas Under 23s Head Coach Graham Arnold was positive about his team's first up performance at the tournament. 

"I was very pleased with the work rate of the players in hot conditions and their mental attitude was very good.

"Croatia are a physical side and we matched them.

"To win in this fashion was a good start to the tournament," concluded Arnold.

Earlier in the evening, Chile defeated Togo 5-1 in the other Group B match.

The Qantas Under 23s play Chile in their second group match on Sunday 18 May (kick-off 11:00pm AEST) . Due to the fact that the Ghanaian national team pulled out of the tournament early this week, the Qantas Under 23s will now face Togo in their final group match on Tuesday 20 May (kick-off 10.45pm AEST).  The top two teams from each group then advance to the semi-finals on Friday 23 May, with the final to be played on Sunday 25 May (kick-off 10.45pm AEST).

Match details

Qantas Under 23s 3 (Nikita Rukavytsya 18', Troy Hearfield 52', James Troisi 74') def Croatia 0

Friday 16 May 2008

KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Referee: Shah Buddin Hadimim

Qantas Under 23s: 18.Tando Velaphi (gk), 2.Ruben Zadkovich, 16.Nigel Boogaard, 22.Aaron Downes, 6.Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 17.Spase Dilevski, 11.James Holland (7.Adam D’Apuzzo 75'), 8.Mark Bridge (c), 15.Michael Zullo, 20.Nikita Rukavytsya (9.Matt Simon 32'), 14.Troy Hearfield (10.James Troisi 72').

Substitutes Not Used: 12.Dean Bouzanis (gk), 19.Jason Hoffman, 3.Adrian Leijer, 13.Trent McClenahan.

Yellow Cards: Ruben Zadkovich 90'

Red Cards: Nil

QANTAS UNDER 23s SQUAD - INTERCONTINENTAL CUP – MALAYSIA 2008

15- 25 May 2008

Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Dean Bouzanis (Liverpool FC, England), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Adam D’Apuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Spase Dilevski (Universitatae Craiova, Romania), Aaron Downes (Chesterfield, England), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Troy Hearfield (Wellington Phoenix), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Adrian Leijer (Fulham, England), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), Mark Milligan (Uncontracted), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (Uncontracted), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County- England) and Michael Zullo (Queensland Roar).

For more information about the Intercontinental Cup – Malaysia 2008, please visit www.fam.org.my

Intercontinental Cup – Malaysia 2008

Official match Schedule

GROUP A
1. Malaysia
2. Nigeria
3. Republic of Ireland
4. Iraq

GROUP B 
1. Australia
2. Togo
3. Croatia
4. Chile
 

Match Day 1 – 15th May 2008

Match 1: Nigeria v Iraq - Match postponed to 21 May due to late arrival of Nigeria

Match 2: Malaysia 1 : Ireland 3

Match Day 2 – 16th May 2008

Match 3:  Togo 1 : Chile 5

Match 4: Australia 3 : Croatia 0

Match Day 3 – 17th May 2008

Match 5: Nigeria v Ireland (Kick-Off 6:30pm MST, 8:30pm AEST) - MBPJ Stadium

Match 6: Malaysia v Iraq (Kick-Off 9:00pm MST, 11:00pm AEST) - MBPJ Stadium

Match Day 4 – 18th May 2008

Match 7: Togo v Croatia (Kick-Off 6:30pm MST, 8:30pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Match 8: Australia v Chile (Kick-Off 9:00pm MST, 11:00pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Match Day 5 – 19th May 2008

Match 9: Malaysia v Nigeria (Kick-Off 8:45pm MST, 10:45pm AEST) - MBPJ Stadium

Match 10: Ireland v Iraq (Kick-Off 8:45pm MST, 10:45pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Match Day 6 – 20th May 2008

Match 11: Australia v Togo (Kick-Off 8:45pm MST, 10:45pm AEST) - MBPJ Stadium

Match 12: Croatia v Chile (Kick-Off 8:45pm MST, 10:45pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Rest Days – 21 May 2008 & 22nd May 2008

Match Day 7 – 23rd May 2008

Match 13: Champion Group A v Runner-up Group B (Kick-Off 6:30pm MST, 8:30pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Match 14: Champion Group B v Runner-up Group A (Kick-Off 9:00pm MST, 11:00pm AEST) - KLFA Stadium

Rest Day – 24th May 2008

Match Day 8 – 25th May 2008

Match 15: Winner Match 13 v Winner Match 14 (Kick-Off 8:45pm, 10:45pm AEST) KLFA Stadium