• Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored as Australia beat Turkey 2-0 in their Group D opener at BC Place in Vancouver.
  • Goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves on a shock international debut after being preferred to the experienced Mat Ryan.
  • The result puts Australia level with co-hosts the United States at the top of Group D ahead of the two sides meeting in Seattle on Friday.

Beach Makes Dream Debut as Socceroos Spoil Turkey’s Long-Awaited World Cup Return

Australia delivered one of the results of the opening round as Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe fired the Socceroos to a 2-0 victory over Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver, spoiling the Turks’ return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years. The match was defined as much by the heroics of Patrick Beach, the 22-year-old goalkeeper making a shock debut, as by the two goals that sealed a memorable afternoon for Australian football.

Tony Popovic’s decision to start Beach ahead of the experienced Mat Ryan raised eyebrows before kickoff, but the young goalkeeper repaid his coach’s faith with a commanding display. FIFA president Gianni Infantino watched from the stands as Turkey, appearing at the tournament for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2002, dominated possession and peppered Beach’s goal throughout. The Socceroos’ number 18 was equal to everything thrown at him.

Turkey had missed five consecutive World Cups before qualifying this year by beating Kosovo in a playoff, and they started with the urgency of a nation desperate to make up for lost time. Beach was called into action early and proved up to the task. His finest moment of the first half came when he saved smartly from Arda Guler, the talented 21-year-old Real Madrid attacking midfielder who was not yet born the last time Turkey played at a World Cup. Beach then launched a lightning counter-attack that changed the complexion of the match entirely.

Within seconds the ball had been switched from one end of the pitch to the other, and Irankunda took full advantage. The 20-year-old Watford winger cut inside brilliantly while pursued by three defenders before rifling an unstoppable right-foot shot into the bottom corner to give Australia the lead in the 27th minute, less than 60 seconds after the first-half hydration break. Irankunda became the youngest Socceroo ever to score at a World Cup and celebrated by punching the corner flag in tribute to Australian football legend Tim Cahill.

“It feels amazing. You’ve got to thank the staff, you’ve got to thank the nation. They all have the belief in me to do so well, and I felt like today getting that goal, it was amazing,” Irankunda said. “Timmy Cahill’s my biggest inspiration when it comes to football, him and Lionel Messi. Tim Cahill, Australia’s greatest in my opinion, and I just thought if I scored I’d do the same [celebration] as him, and I got to do it.”

Turkey pushed for an equalizer and Beach continued to impress. He tipped Abdulkerim Bardakci’s piledriver from distance onto the post, keeping the Socceroos’ lead intact at halftime. Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella introduced Kenan Yildiz, the 21-year-old Juventus forward, at the break in search of fresh impetus.

The changes initially brought Turkey closer to a breakthrough. Guler whipped a dangerous free kick toward goal in the 57th minute, but Beach parried it clear to maintain his perfect record on the night. Turkey created chance after chance but could not find a way past the inspired goalkeeper, who finished the evening with eight saves.

Australia remained dangerous on the counter and sealed the victory 15 minutes from time. Metcalfe snatched possession from Ismail Yuksek in midfield, surged forward and crashed a superb left-foot shot into the bottom corner to double the Socceroos’ lead. The goal extinguished any remaining Turkish hope and sent the Australian supporters in Vancouver into celebration.

Popovic was visibly moved by what his players had produced. “Yeah it [Australia’s first goal] was quite special. You see the young boys combining to score a goal, and you can’t underestimate what this will do for their confidence and belief. Emotionally it will take a lot out of the players, this game, so we’ve got to get back and recover well and focus on the US,” the Australia coach said. “Proud to be here as head coach, to experience this, put a smile on these people’s faces that have travelled so far to support us. And just happy for a wonderful young group of men.”

Irankunda reflected on the broader moment with equal pride. “We’ve got the win now, we worked extra hard, we fought till the end, and it’s just an exciting moment,” he said.

Montella was left to absorb a defeat that put Turkey on the back foot in Group D after just one match. “We created so many chances, but we couldn’t score. That’s football. They defended very well; it was difficult to get into the box. They did well at scoring on the counter-attack, which is their best weapon. All is not lost; there are still two games to play, and I’m confident. We’re disappointed with the result, but there’s time to move on. We have to stay positive,” Montella said.

Australia, playing in their sixth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall, will carry enormous confidence into a top-of-the-table showdown with the United States in Seattle on Friday. The Socceroos reached the round of 16 in Qatar four years ago before falling to eventual champions Argentina, and this result suggests Popovic’s young side are capable of matching that run or bettering it. Turkey, meanwhile, face a must-win encounter with Paraguay, who were beaten 4-1 by the USA in their Group D opener.

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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Source: Futbolchronicle.com