Australia goals: Irankunda (27), Metcalfe (75)
Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored memorable goals to fire Australia to a sensational 2-0 win over Türkiye in Vancouver.
The match also belonged to Patrick Beach, the young goalkeeper handed a shock Socceroos debut who went on to thwart Arda Guler and Co.
Eyebrows had been raised when the 22-year-old was preferred to Mat Ryan but he played a key role in Australia’s opener, saving smartly from Guler before launching a lightning counter-attack.
Within seconds, the ball had been switched from one end to the other, and Irankunda tool full advantage, cutting inside brilliantly before rifling home an unstoppable right-foot shot.
Beach continued to impress, tipping an Abdulkerime Bardakci piledriver on to the post and parrying clear a powerful free-kick from the influential Guler.
Australia remained dangerous, though, and secured the points 15 minutes from time when Metcalfe snatched possession in midfield, surged forward and crashed a superb left-foot shot into the bottom corner.
The Socceroos now march on to a top-of-the-table showdown with Group D leaders USA in Seattle, while Türkiye face a must-not-lose encounter with Paraguay.
8 - Beach pulled off no fewer than eight saves to keep Türkiye at bay on an international debut to remember
Sources: FIFA Official
