The thrilling news emerged from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under 16s Championships and World Cup qualifier last week that saw Australia not lose any of their five matches in Thailand.

The squad missed out on their first AFC Under 16 Championship final, held Saturday, when they were forced into a penalty shoot-out with North Korea after levelling the score to 1-all by full time in the semi final last Wednesday.

Ward – a member of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport – was among the 23-player squad selected by Joeys’ head coach and former Socceroo Tony Vidmar.

The squad also included a player currently based overseas at Liverpool Football Club in England.

The Joeys left for Bangkok, Thailand on August 30 for a pre-tournament training camp. 

They opened their AFC Under 16 Championship campaign against China PR on September 6 and faced Hong Kong on September 8, winning both matches.  

Their final group match – another win, 4-2 - was against Japan on September 10. 

The Joeys maintained their 100 per cent winning record into the quarter finals on September 14 when the winners from Group B, Australia was to face the runners-up of Group A, Malaysia.

It was the deal-breaker match that if won would not only see the victor advance into the semi-finals, but  also qualify for the World Cup in Chile from October 17 to November 8, 2015.

And it was also a match Ward unfortunately sat out on.

Vidmar told FFA the Joeys struggled with the heat in the first half against Malaysia at a stifling hot Muangthong Stadium but was pleased to announce they reached their goal of making the World Cup after winning 2-1.

“We knew what to expect from Malaysia, that they would let us have possession and not press us,” he said after seeing his side take their fourth consecutive win.

“We still have a lot to learn and can be naïve, but we have 12 months of preparation for the World Cup now.”

Vidmar also said Australia could play the semi final on Wednesday, September 17 against North Korea with “less pressure”.

The team, which again had Ward on the sideline, drew 1-all with the 2010 champions in what was described as a “hard fought” and “very disciplined” game.

But Australia succumbed to a 4-1 penalty shootout loss and was edged out of the championships.

“… When we get back to Australia we can closely analyse each game and also closely look at other countries and areas they do well and we don’t and look to improve in those parts,” Vidmar told FFA.

“Finishing and delivery of balls into the box from the wide area is something we need to improve on as that can prove the big difference.

“… the whole country should be proud of the way they played.”

Korea Republic claimed their second AFC Under 16 Championship, defeating North Korea in the final at the weekend.

Ward returned to Australia early Friday morning and was unable to be interviewed by The Witness yesterday.

The 15-year-old former Young High student will be returning home to Young for the remainder of the school holidays this Friday.