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.

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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.

The key moments from Vancouver

• 27: Guler fires a close-range volley straight at Beach.
• 27: GOAL! Just 18 seconds later Irankunda fires Australia ahead on the break.
• 30: Beach tips Bardakci's long-range drive on to the post.
• 72: Beach is there again to deny Zeki Celik with an impressive near-post stop.
• 75: GOAL! Metcalfe doubles the Socceroos lead with a low drive from distance.

Analysis: Beach the Aussie hero as Popovic's big call pays off

Sky Sports' 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.

What the result means...

Popovic: Proud to be here as head coach

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."

Irankunda: People underestimate us - we showed we can play

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."

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