Australia left BC Place in Vancouver with three points and a statement. Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe earned a 2-0 win over a Türkiye side playing their first World Cup since 2002.
Irankunda broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. Paul Okon-Engstler’s long ball forward dropped to the 20-year-old in the left channel, and he controlled it before beating Merih Demiral and slotting past Ugurcan Cakir. The goal came just 17 seconds after Patrick Beach had saved from Arda Güler at the other
end.
Güler was at the heart of everything Turkiye tried. He took eight shots, more than any other player on the pitch, and created two chances from his 105 touches. His passing was tidy, 68 of 73 completed, and his four long balls all found a man.
Beach, 22 and making his competitive debut, justified Tony Popovic’s selection with eight saves, the most by an Australian goalkeeper at a World Cup. Metcalfe sealed it with 15 minutes left, finishing past Cakir after Ismail Yuksek’s giveaway. Australia named 10 debutants and now sit level with the United States atop Group D, with Seattle next on Friday.
