Australia shocks Turkey 2-0 in World Cup opener, Irankunda becomes youngest goalscorer
The Socceroos held firm and struck on counter-attacks to defeat Turkey 2-0 in their Group 4 World Cup opener, with 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda grabbing the first and Connor Metcalf adding the second.
Counter-attacking resolve
Australia set up with a disciplined low block, willing to surrender possession to a Turkey side built around Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. As expected, Turkey took the early initiative: Güler dragged a shot wide after seven minutes and Ferdi Kadıoğlu fired off target in the 18th. But the Socceroos' defensive shape, marshalled by their two banks of four, funneled Turkey's attacks into harmless long-range efforts.
Irankunda strikes on the break
The game's turning point came in the 27th minute. A sudden counter-attack, sparked by a deep clearance from goalkeeper Patrick Beach, sent Nestory Irankunda racing into the channel. The 20-year-old Watford forward beat his marker and rolled a low finish past Uğurcan Çakır. The goal made Irankunda the youngest Australian to score in a World Cup finals. Turkey sought an instant reply, and came agonisingly close when Abdülkerim Bardakcı hammered a shot against the upright from outside the box in the 30th minute.
- 7' – Arda Güler shot goes wide
- 18' – Ferdi Kadıoğlu attempt off target
- 27' – Nestory Irankunda scores the opener
- 30' – Abdülkerim Bardakcı hits the post from range
- 57' – Güler free-kick saved by Patrick Beach
- 75' – Connor Metcalf doubles the lead from outside the box
- Full time: Australia 2-0 Turkey
Beach's records and resilience
Beach would go on to produce the finest goalkeeping display in Australian World Cup history. His total of eight saves eclipsed the previous national benchmark. Most notably, he turned Bardakcı's long-range rocket onto the post and, early in the second half, acrobatically tipped away a curling free-kick from Güler.
A second goal against the run of play
Turkey continued to boss the ball after the interval and registered several threatening set-pieces. A header from Al Hassan Toure forced a sharp save from Çakır, while at the other end the Turkish pressure grew more frantic. Then, in the 75th minute, Australia broke forward once more. Connor Metcalf collected the ball outside the area and rifled a low strike into the bottom corner, doubling the advantage and extinguishing Turkish hopes.
Group 4 landscape
The 2-0 result lifts Australia level with the United States at the summit of Group 4, which Greek outlets described as the tournament's most competitive group. The outcome was widely labelled the first major upset of the 2026 World Cup. Turkey, despite completing 71% of possession and sending in 29 or 30 shots according to different counts, leave their opener empty-handed and face a steep path toward the knockout stage.
