Australia 2-0 Turkey: Socceroos Stun Türkiye With Clinical World Cup Victory

Australia upset Turkey with a 2-0 victory after a resolute defensive performance at BC Place in Vancouver.

The Socceroos were comfortable sitting back and absorbing pressure for large portions of the game, particularly after Irankunda’s opener in the 26th minute. Metcalfe’s long-distance effort after 75 minutes doubled their lead and sealed the victory for Tony Popovic’s men.

Despite dominating possession and playing almost entirely in Australia’s half, Turkey were limited to long-distance efforts and crosses from wide areas throughout the game.

The result puts Australia level on points with hosts USA, sitting second only on goal difference ahead of the two sides meeting on Friday. Another victory for Australia would equal their record-best group-stage performance from four years ago and guarantee qualification for the Round of 32.

From the first whistle to the opening hydration break, many people’s predictions were confirmed: Turkey would control most of the ball while Australia sat back and defended compactly.

Turkey were happy circulating possession and looking to get it to Güler in dangerous areas, but by the first cooling break neither side had created a clear-cut chance.

After 26 minutes, Güler produced the first threatening effort on goal, meeting a deflected cross with a clean volley that required Beach’s shot-stopping services. Wasting no time, Beach promptly distributed the ball out to the left before a perfect pass over the Turkish right-back found Irankunda, who cut inside Demiral with ease and coolly slotted past Çakir to put Australia 1-0 ahead.

Australia broke so quickly that there were just 13.7 seconds between Güler’s volley and Irankunda’s opener. Turkey looked stunned.

Business as usual promptly resumed afterwards, with Turkey dominating possession once again. Two minutes later, Galatasaray centre-back Bardakci smashed a half-volley from 30 yards which Beach was able to tip onto the post.

At half-time, Turkey introduced their other 21-year-old star, Kenan Yildiz, who had been suffering from a calf injury that kept him out of the starting XI.

The second half continued in much the same fashion, albeit with Turkey showing greater urgency. Vincenzo Montella’s men pushed almost every outfield player into the final third and looked repeatedly to Yildiz in an attempt to break down the stubborn Australian defence.

Just shy of the hour mark, a low, goalkeeper-side free-kick from Güler forced another good save, but by the second hydration break Turkey still trailed.

In the 75th minute, Turkey gave the ball away cheaply in their own half and Metcalfe pounced, firing a low effort into the bottom-right corner from outside the penalty area.

Turkey looked out of ideas. Australia had absorbed the pressure and landed two decisive blows from seemingly innocuous opportunities.

Three minutes later, Arktürkoğlu had a golden chance when a cross from the right dropped to him around the penalty spot, but his effort went straight down the middle and Beach reacted well to save.

Another goalkeeper-side free-kick, this time from Çalhanoğlu in the 86th minute, was the closest Turkey came for the remainder of the match, but once again Beach was equal to it.

It was a game plan executed to perfection by Australia and could serve as a blueprint for many other teams at this tournament on how to deal with technically superior opponents who dominate possession.

Turkey’s hopes of topping the group now look distant, with their match against Paraguay next Saturday becoming a must-win encounter if they are to qualify for the next round.

Line-ups

Australia (5-4-1):

Beach; Italiano (Geria 74’), Circati, Souttar (C), Burgess, Bos (Behich 83’); Metcalfe, Okon-Engstler (Irvine 83’), O’Neill, Irankunda (Velupillay 61’); Touré (Yengi 74’)

Turkey (4-2-3-1):

Çakir; Çelik (Müldür 81’), Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Çalhanoglu (C), Yüksek (Özcan 81’); Güler, Kökcü (Akgün 62’), Yilmaz (Yildiz 46’); Arktürkoğlu (Gül 85’)