Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 14

Australia Beats Türkiye 2-0 in World Cup as 20-Year-Old Irankunda Sparks Group D Race

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 14

Australia Beats Türkiye 2-0 in World Cup as 20-Year-Old Irankunda Sparks Group D Race

Q: Can teenage hero Irankunda lead Australia to a historic first win over a Turkish side desperate to shine after 24 years away?

Yes — Irankunda has already put Australia in position for a historic first win over Türkiye, but the result is still far from secure. The 20-year-old gave the Socceroos a 1-0 halftime lead in Vancouver, and that goal is significant beyond the scoreline: Australia had never previously led Türkiye in their two past meetings and had never beaten them, losing both friendlies in 2004. If Australia holds on, it would be their first-ever victory over the Turkish side. That would also be a major statement given the context. Australia came into the match as the underdog, with coach Tony Popovic taking risks by leaving out experienced leaders Mathew Ryan and Jackson Irvine from the starting XI. The Socceroos’ lineup is one of the youngest at the tournament, with 17 World Cup debutants, so Irankunda’s impact fits the broader story of a new generation stepping up. Still, Türkiye remain a serious threat. They are back at the World Cup for the first time since their third-place finish in 2002 and arrived with momentum after a Euro 2024 quarterfinal run, Nations League promotion, and strong June friendlies. Their squad, led by Arda Güler and boosted by the second-half introduction of Kenan Yıldız, has the quality to turn the match. So Irankunda can lead Australia to that breakthrough, and right now he is doing exactly that. But with Türkiye pushing hard in the second half, the historic win will depend on whether Australia’s young side can withstand the pressure.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 14

Nestory Irankunda’s 27th-minute opener sent Australia to a 2-0 World Cup win over Türkiye in Vancouver, lifting the Socceroos into a top-of-the-group showdown with the United States.
Patrick Beach underpinned the upset with 8 saves and a clean sheet in only his third international, after coach Tony Popovic benched captain Mathew Ryan in one of two bold lineup calls.
Tony Popovic’s youngest-ever Australian World Cup XI absorbed 30 Turkish shots, with Paul Okon Jr also justifying his selection and Connor Metcalfe adding the late second goal.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s pre-match claim that Türkiye would dominate Australia became added fuel for the Socceroos, who conceded possession but punished lapses and defended relentlessly.
For Australia, the result stands as one of its strongest World Cup wins and further elevates 20-year-old Irankunda, already the nation’s youngest World Cup scorer.