VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — For Australia’s opener against Turkey, the Socceroos’ presumed starting goalkeeper was Mathew Ryan, who entered this tournament as a veteran of three World Cups and the team's captain.
Manager Tony Popovic instead turned to a 22-year-old keeper, who would be playing in just his third ever international match: Patrick Beach.
“A couple of days ago, the boss and our keeper coach pulled me aside and told me that I’d be
playing,” Beach said. “They had confidence in me, and that became the confidence I needed to get out there and do my job tonight.”
In the 30th minute, while the Socceroos held an unexpected 1-0 lead over Turkey, Beach made his first save of many, quickly justifying Popovic’s bold decision.
As Turkey’s Abdulkerim Bardakci launched a blistering long-range shot destined for the goal, Beach made a fully outstretched save to redirect the ball off the post and away to safety.
He added another pair of excellent saves in the second half, diving to deny Arda Guler's free kick from outside the box and turning away Kerem Akturkoglu’s shot from near the penalty spot.
Beach finished with eight-saves and a clean sheet. The Sydney native has only played two professional seasons to Ryan’s 16, both as the starting keeper for Melbourne City of Australia’s A-League.
Beach started in the Socceroos’ final friendly match before the World Cup, a 1-1 draw to Switzerland, but did not appear in any of his nation’s nine other friendlies dating back to June 2025.
“You get out there, and you’re in front of 50,000 people, and how many (more) around the world,” Beach said. “So, there’s those, but at the end of the day you just keep it simple. It’s a game of football, and two teams just going at it.”
The inexperienced goalkeeper remained poised while Turkey controlled 72% of possession and attempted 30 shots, with eight on target. In by far the biggest match of his life, Beach said he was nervous, but the strong defense in front of him and the confidence of his teammates and coaches helped him pull through.
“It’s a team selected to perform well,” Popovic said when asked of his decision to start Beach over Ryan. “Regardless of the result it was the right decision.”
The upset win moved Australia to second place in Group D, just behind the United States on goal differential. More significant than its position in the standings, however, was that the victory represented one of Australia’s most impressive World Cup starts in decades. Much of the credit belongs to its young goalkeeper.
“He looked very at ease on the big stage,” Popovic said of Beach. “He made the saves he had to make. The quality they have, and the wonderful free kicks he took — he was up to the task.”
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Ben Kule is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
