#Letakan iklan disini
Football Jun 17, 2026

World Cup 2026: Australia 2-0 Turkey - Socceroos make winning start to Group D campaign in Vancouver

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
World Cup 2026: Australia 2-0 Turkey - Socceroos make winning start to Group D campaign in Vancouver

Goals in each half from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe saw Australia shock Turkey 2-0 in their opening World Cup Group D clash in Vancouver.

Tony Popovic's side were considered big underdogs ahead of the game at BC Place, but they produced a disciplined display to record just their fifth World Cup victory, with young goalkeeper Patrick Beach the hero.

The 22-year-old was handed a surprise competitive Socceroos debut in place of the more experienced Mat Ryan, but did not let his side down with a string of impressive stops - eight, the most so far by any 'keeper in the tournament - to frustrate Turkey, the best coming when he tipped Abdulkerim Bardakci's long-range strike on to the post to preserve his team's slender lead.

Earlier, Watford striker Irankunda became Australia's youngest World Cup scorer when he showed great skill and composure to finish the opening goal in the 27th-minute on the counter, before Metcalfe's low drive from distance sealed the victory with a quarter of an hour to go.

Turkey had 30 shots in total and 72 per cent of the possession but were unable to find a way through the Australian defence, who made 55 clearances in the game.

Your Site' Rich Morgan:

Australia head coach Popovic made a massive call by handing Beach his competitive debut in place of the more experienced former Brighton goalkeeper Ryan - but boy did it pay off at BC Place.

The Melbourne City No 1 was in unbeatable form in Vancouver, making eight stops in total, more than any other 'keeper so far in the tournament to frustrate Turkey and help seal his side's impressive opening Group D clash.

The best of those saves came moments after the Socceroos went ahead as he somehow managed to touch Bardakci's seemingly goalbound strike on to the post, before celebrating as if he had just scored the winning goal.

And the 22-year-old got hugs all round from all his team-mates at the final whistle in what was a dream World Cup debut for the young shot-stopper.

Australia head coach Tony Popovic to ITV Sport:

"Proud. Proud to be here as head coach. To experience this, put a smile on people's faces who have travelled so far to support us and just happy for a group of wonderful young men.

"Just proud of the staff and the work they put in. Some good decisions on the sideline. Tried to guide them, tried to support them."

Australia goalscorer Nestory Irankunda on ITV Sport:

"Timmy Cahill is my biggest inspiration when it comes to football. Him and Lionel Messi. Tim Cahill, Australia's greatest in my opinion. I just thought if I scored, I'll do the same as him and I got to do it.

"It was extra motivation [being underdogs]. Obviously, we don't like to hear people talk bad about us because we are a great team. People underestimate us and we showed them today that we can play. They kept the ball a lot more, but who scored the goals? We scored the goals and we showed them that we can play football."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

England vs Croatia: Sky Sports writers pick their Three Lions starting XIs for 2026 World Cup opener in Texas

England vs Croatia: Sky Sports writers pick their Three Lions starting XIs for 2026 World Cup opener in Texas

England finally kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Wednesday and the Your Site writers have b...

Thomas Partey: Ghana midfielder loses appeal for Canadian visa ahead of opening World Cup fixture

Thomas Partey: Ghana midfielder loses appeal for Canadian visa ahead of opening World Cup fixture

An appeal against the decision to deny Ghana’s Thomas Partey a Canadian visa for the World Cup has failed – with court documents revealing the initial...

France 3-1 Senegal: Kylian Mbappe stands up in World Cup opener as 'superstar' the first to shine Stateside

France 3-1 Senegal: Kylian Mbappe stands up in World Cup opener as 'superstar' the first to shine Stateside

It's been a strange season for Kylian Mbappe. Plenty of goals, no trophies and criticism from his home fans. But when the lights of the World Cup shin...

World Cup 2026: Tino Livramento suffers calf injury and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah in England squad

World Cup 2026: Tino Livramento suffers calf injury and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah in England squad

England’s World Cup campaign has suffered an early setback as Tino Livramento's tournament is over after suffering a calf injury, with Trevoh Chalobah...

England World Cup latest: Jamie Carragher 'unsurprised' by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire snub after Tino Livramento injury

England World Cup latest: Jamie Carragher 'unsurprised' by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire snub after Tino Livramento injury

Jamie Carragher has admitted he 'isn't surprised' that Thomas Tuchel has called up Trevor Chalobah as Tino Livramento's World Cup replacement over Tre...

Sandro Tonali transfer news: Tottenham Hotspur want Newcastle midfielder as Roberto De Zerbi makes Italian top target

Sandro Tonali transfer news: Tottenham Hotspur want Newcastle midfielder as Roberto De Zerbi makes Italian top target

Tottenham want to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer.The Italy international is a top target for Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi as he lo...