Irankunda's stunning counter-attack goal puts Australia ahead against Turkiye at World Cup

Nestory Irankunda announced himself on the global stage by scoring a stunning 27th-minute goal to put Australia ahead against Turkiye in their World Cup 2026 Group D match. The 20-year-old Watford winger, who joined the club from Bayern Munich last summer, raced onto Paul Okon-Engstler’s ball over the top of the Turkiye defence, cut inside a defender with a deft touch into the box, and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a composed finish into the near bottom corner.

The goal came against the run of play. Turkiye had dominated much of the opening exchanges, pressing to break down a disciplined Australia backline under manager Tony Popovic. That defensive patience proved its worth the moment Irankunda was released in behind — his electric pace and low centre of gravity making him virtually impossible to stop once in full stride.

Comparisons to Michael Owen’s iconic goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup were immediate, and not without justification. Like Owen that night in Saint-Étienne, Irankunda combined raw speed with a clinical, composed finish that belied his age.

The Tanzanian-born winger has been a senior international since he was 18, the same summer Bayern Munich scouts spotted him following an eye-catching spell with Adelaide United in Australia. He went on to make 35 EFL Championship appearances for Watford last season, establishing himself as one of the more exciting young wingers in English football’s second tier.

Australia have been a World Cup fixture since 2006 and have twice reached the round of 16 in the previous 32-team format. Popovic’s side will next face co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Friday, June 19, before concluding their group stage campaign against Paraguay in San Francisco on June 26.