World Cup’s most despised rule delivers Socceroos staggering upset
VANCOUVER: For those Australians paying $20 a beer at BC Place, Vancouver, the pain of the wallet was levelled out by the delight of victory after the Socceroos′ FIFA World Cup campaign started with a 2-0 victory against Türkiye.
Both goals miraculously came minutes after hydration breaks for the Socceroos, a rule that has been criticised across the football landscape.
Nestory Irankunda celebrates with goal with Mo Toure. The Canadian Press
Boy wonder Nestory Irankunda was the man who delivered a dream start, expertly finding the net in the first half to bring a strong contingent of Aussie fans to their feet inside the stadium and back home at live sites.
Tony Popovic sprung a major surprise pre-match when he selected Paul Okon-Engstler over vice-captain Jackson Irvine and Patrick Beach instead of captain Mat Ryan, but he was justified in the first half.
Okon-Engstler was the man who put a delicious pass over the top of Türkiye’s defence for Irankunda to run through and expertly put the ball into the bottom left corner.
Irankunda’s goal came moments after the first hydration break where he and Mo Toure were singled out by Popovic for a rousing tactical discussion that seemingly paid off.
Then minutes later, Abdülkerim Bardakçı hit a brilliant half volley from the outside of the box that soared towards the top left corner.
But Beach was up to the task, parrying it away into the post to stop the equaliser.
After that chance, the Socceroos looked like the classic Popovic side: compact and difficult to break down. That meant the lead stayed at 1-0 by half-time.
The first chance after the break went to Harry Souttar who used his giant frame to put a header towards goal. Toure was a boot lace away from deflecting it in the opposite direction but it was saved.
Then in the 56th minute, Beach justified Popovic again. Türkiye had a free kick outside the box with Arda Güler ready to strike.
Güler’s left-footed effort sizzled towards the bottom corner but Beach was up to the task again, parrying the ball away.
Chances kept following for Türkiye but a compact Australian side – that had well and truly parked the bus – couldn’t be broken before the next hydration break.
The next best opportunity came for Zeki Çelik who rifled a shot in the 72nd minute to the near-post but Beach knocked him back again.
Then, as the ball pinged around near halfway, Türkiye’s concentration went into the abyss. Connor Metcalfe found himself with ample space and drove towards the box before firing a long shot that bounced into the net and sent players and fans into raptures.
Connor Metcalfe celebrates his wonder strike. AP
Beach continued to repay Popovic after the Metcalfe strike, pulling off multiple saves to keep Türkiye at bay.
The Socceroos continued to stay compact in defence and stopped any pain for their goal difference, with Beach keeping a clean sheet.
Down Under sounded across BC Place with Australians in full voice after the 2-0 win.
Next stop: Seattle. Next target: USA.
“Tonight Australia silenced a lot of people, which is fantastic,” Socceroos legend Harry Kewell said on SBS post-game.
