Australia shock Turkey to make winning start to World Cup campaign

Australia vs Turkey; FIFA World Cup Group D Australia vs Turkey. FIFA World Cup Group D. BC PlaceAttendance52,497. World Cup 2026: Australia 2-0 Turkey - Socceroos make winning start to Group D campaign in Vancouver Match report as Australia beat Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver to make winning start to World Cup campaign; goals in each half from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe see the Socceroos record just their fifth World Cup victory; Patrick Beach shone on his competitive debut for Australia Sunday 14 June 2026 07:27, UK Goals in each half from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe saw Australia shock Turkey 2-0 in their opening World Cup Group D clash in Vancouver. Tony Popovic's side were considered big underdogs ahead of the game at BC Place, but they produced a disciplined display to record just their fifth World Cup victory and their second win in their opening fixture at the tournament, with young goalkeeper Patrick Beach the hero. The 22-year-old was handed a surprise competitive Socceroos debut in place of the more experienced Mat Ryan, but did not let his side down with a string of impressive stops - the most so far by any 'keeper in the tournament - to frustrate Turkey, the best coming when he tipped Abdulkerim Bardakci's long-range strike on to the post to preserve his team's slender lead. Earlier, Watford striker Irankunda had shown great skill and composure to fire Australia into a 27th-minute lead on the counter, before Metcalfe's low drive from distance sealed the victory with a quarter of an hour to go. - As it happened | Teams | Stats | Group D guide - World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World Cup - Follow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App The key moments from Vancouver - 27: Guler fires a close-range volley straight at Beach. - 27: GOAL! Just 18 seconds later Irankunda fires Australia ahead on the break. - 30: Beach tips Bardakci's long-range drive on to the post. - 72: Beach is there again to deny Zeki Celik with an impressive near-post stop. - 75: GOAL! Metcalfe doubles the Socceroos lead with a low drive from distance. [Image text:] 8 2026 ECURITY