- Discovered the again of the web towards Torino in Italian Cup
Australian soccer formally has a brand new star, after 16-year-old Antonio Area scored together with his first contact for Serie A giants Roma.
The 16-year-old was thrown into the fray to make his membership debut within the eightieth minute of Roma’s Italian Cup conflict towards Torino, and moments later discovered the again of the web on the Stadio Olimpico.
Area headed previous Torino goalkeeper Alberto Paleari to stage the scores at 2-2 within the 81st minute of their round-of-16 match on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).
However regardless of the younger Aussie’s eye-catching heroics, Torino clinched a 3-2 victory due to a Ninetieth-minute purpose from Emirhan Ilkhan.
After the Coppa Italia match, Area was singled out by Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
‘I am joyful about these very younger gamers: one is 16 years outdated and it is an necessary course of for him,” Gasperini mentioned.
Australian soccer formally has a brand new star, after 16-year-old Antonio Area scored together with his first contact for Serie A giants Roma
The 16-year-old was thrown into the fray to make his membership debut within the eightieth minute of Roma’s Italian Cup conflict towards Torino, and moments later discovered the again of the web
‘He (Area) is actually a participant who has an excellent aggressive drive, regardless of his younger age. He has plenty of power to supply and he isn’t afraid to place himself on the market.’
Area, who was born in Sydney, has twin citizenship and has represented each Australia and Italy at youth worldwide stage.
After fine-tuning his expertise as a teen with Western Sydney Wanderers’ Academy squad, Area made the transfer to Italian membership Pescara.
He made his senior {and professional} debut final yr in a 4-1 Serie C win over Lucchese, scoring the aspect’s fourth purpose.
At 16 years and 25 days outdated, he turned the primary 2009-born participant to attain in skilled soccer in Italy, and in addition the youngest ever goal-scorer for Pescara.
In July 2025, Area signed with Serie A aspect Roma, making his debut towards Torino.
The dynamic Australian is not any stranger to the worldwide stage.
In 2024, he made his debut for the Australian under-16 aspect in a 4-3 win over Switzerland.
The next yr he was referred to as as much as characterize the Italian under-16 group in a sequence of worldwide friendlies, with each nations little question eager to safe his companies long-term.
