Match Report
A spirited Australia has secured a famous 1-0 win over Tunisia in its second match of Group D at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Saturday night (AEDT), keeping alive hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Mitch Duke’s sensational first-half header proved the difference as the Socceroos bossed the opening 45 minutes, before resolutely holding off a determined Tunisia in the second stanza.
The result is just Australia’s third victory at the FIFA World Cup and first since 2010 against Serbia.
The Aussies also kept their first clean sheet in more than 48 years after achieving the feat during their inaugural appearance in 1974.
Graham Arnold made just the solitary change to his starting line-up, which was enforced, after Nathaniel Atkinson sustained an ankle knock against France with Fran Karacic a natural replacement at right-back.
Australia began the match with the ascendancy, dominating possession and delivered several crosses into the area which the Tunisian back three of Dylan Bronn, Yassine Meriah and Montassar Talbi dealt with relative ease.
Nevertheless, Craig Goodwin and Mathew Leckie were lively and provided excellent width to stretch the Tunisians.
The Aussies took a deserved lead on 23 minutes, employing the same modus operandi that had forced Tunisia on the backfoot, albeit with a slice of luck.
Goodwin’s cross took a wicked deflection, but Duke did excellently to adjust his body and expertly flick his header beyond Aymen Dahmen, becoming Australia’s eighth goal-scorer at the FIFA World Cup.
