Socceroos stun Turkiye 2-0 to open Women's World Cup campaign with disciplined counter-attacking display

Australia opened their World Cup campaign with a controlled 2-0 victory over Turkiye in Group D, goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe sealing a result that belied the Socceroos’ status as underdogs heading into the contest.

Tony Popovic’s side were content to sit deep and absorb Turkiye’s pressure, trusting their ability to hurt the opposition on the counter-attack. That approach paid dividends when Watford forward Irankunda raced onto a long ball down the left, cut inside the box and drove an unstoppable effort past the wrong-footed goalkeeper to give Australia the lead against the run of play.

Turkiye, who had been the more dominant side in terms of possession, struggled to find a way through a resolute Australian defensive shape. Captain Harry Souttar went close from a corner early in the second half, forcing a save from goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, while at the other end Patrick Beach — a surprise selection in goal — produced a sharp stop to deny Real Madrid’s Arda Guler from a free kick.

As Turkiye resorted to speculative long-range efforts, Australia punished them again. Connor Metcalfe broke from the halfway line and drilled a composed finish into the bottom corner from 25 yards to put the result beyond doubt.

The victory sets Australia up well in a group that also includes the United States, who had earlier hammered Paraguay 4-1, and Paraguay themselves. Former Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou, who managed Australia to three defeats in the brutal 2014 World Cup group that included the Netherlands, Chile and Spain, was effusive in his praise for the performance.

“It was really special,” Postecoglou said. “I’m probably the least surprised — I know Turkiye were the favourites, but I know what’s in that dressing room, that Australian spirit. It’s not by chance they won tonight — it was well deserved. They set up a certain way, very disciplined, and they had the quality. Both goals were quality goals.”

Postecoglou added that he believes the squad now has a genuine opportunity to reach the knockout rounds if they can reproduce this level of performance against Paraguay and the United States in their remaining group fixtures.