Australia's Nestory Irankunda celebrates scoring the first goal against Turkiye during the World Cup Group D football match, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo: AP/Kaleb Tatum)

Australia win 2-0 to spoil Turkiye's return to World Cup stage

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic's bold selection gamble paid off after leaving captain Maty Ryan and Jackson Irvine out of his starting XI.

14 Jun 2026, 06:05 · CNA · Join

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

VANCOUVER: Australia spoiled Turkiye's return to the World Cup stage after 24 years by securing a 2-0 victory in their Group D opener on Saturday (Jun 13), courtesy of goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.

Coach Tony Popovic's bold selection gamble paid off as rookie goalkeeper Patrick Beach produced a string of crucial saves to help secure a famous Socceroos victory at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium.

Australia coach Popovic had pulled off a massive shock in his starting line-up, dropping experienced captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan in favour of Beach, winning only his third cap.

Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was also dropped in favour of 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler in a first XI that featured 10 World Cup debutants.

CNA Games

Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time

Buzzword
Create words using the given letters

Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser

Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge

Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less

Both of those selections proved to be inspired, with Beach pulling off a string of fine saves to deny Turkiye, who dominated possession and territory but could not find a way past the Australian goalkeeper.

Okon-Engstler meanwhile was instrumental in setting up the opening goal in the first half, unfurling a long ball that split the Turkish defence and sent Irankunda racing in on goal to score.

Turkiye - playing in the World Cup for the first time since finishing third at the 2002 tournament - arrived in North America dreaming of making a serious run in the knockout rounds.

But their talented team made up largely of players who regularly compete in Europe's Champions League were unable to get to grips with a well-organised Socceroos line-up.

One of Turkiye's best chances came in the 27th minute when Real Madrid's Arda Guler forced a smart save from Beach with a rasping shot.

Just seconds after that chance though Australia took the lead.

Beach picked out Okon-Engstler deep in the Australia half, and the 21-year-old midfielder pumped the ball upfield for Irankunda.

The Australia winger still had plenty to do but a clever first touch took him clear of the covering defence before he tucked away a low finish.

Irankunda celebrated by sprinting to the edge of the pitch and pretending to box the corner flag, mimicking former Australia skipper Tim Cahill's signature goal celebration.

Turkiye thought they had equalised three minutes later after Abdulkerim Bardakci's piledriver from outside of the area hurtled towards goal.

But Beach got the slightest of fingertips to divert the ball onto the post and Australia survived again.

Beach kept up his commanding form in the second half, turning a Guler free-kick wide for a corner on 57 minutes.

With Beach continuing to make save after save, Australia made the game safe in the 75th minute when Metcalfe picked the ball up in midfield, advanced on goal and shot home from 25 yards.

"Proud to be here as head coach, to experience this ... and just happy for a wonderful young group of men," Popovic said afterwards, before praising the contribution of inexperienced goalkeeper Beach.

"It's something that we've always seen, and I've got a lot of belief in the young man. He stood up today, so very happy for him."

The win leaves Australia level on three points with Group D leaders the United States, with the two teams due to meet in Seattle on Friday.

Australia win 2-0 to spoil Turkiye's return to World Cup stage

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic's bold selection gamble paid off after leaving captain Maty Ryan and Jackson Irvine out of his starting XI.

Recommended Read

Sign up for our newsletters

Get the CNA app