Five-star CommBank Socceroos defeat Curaçao 5-1

The CommBank Socceroos have defeated Curaçao 5-1 at AAMI Park in Melbourne to win the FIFA Series 2026™ Australia.
 

Awer Mabil scored in the first half before the action exploded in the second. Alessandro Circati scored his first goal for the national team, Jordy Bos made it two goals in two games and Nestory Irankunda scored a brace in an influential performance from the bench.

The result means that the Socceroos have finished the FIFA Series 2026™ with two wins from two, six goals scored and only one conceded.

Head Coach Tony Popovic made five changes after their 1-0 victory against Cameroon. Kai Trewin, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich, Ajdin Hrustic and Awer Mabil came into the starting eleven. Notably, debutants in the first game – Deni Juric and Lucas Herrington – maintained their spots.

The game started evenly, with both sides spending the opening exchanges feeling each other out. Possession was relatively balanced and chances were difficult to come by.

Australia opened the scoring midway through the first half. An effective high press from Ajdin Hrustic saw the ball turned over. Kai Trewin’s centring cross found a clever touch from Deni Juric to put it into the path of Awer Mabil. Mabil made no mistake from close range to score his 10th international goal and his first since March 2023.

Curaçao looked to hit back as Jeremy Antonisse forced a good save from Maty Ryan after a great pass in behind from Leandro Bacuna. However, despite some good moments, it was the home side who went into the break in the lead.

There were three substitutions at half-time. Ajdin Hrustic was forced off with injury, and replaced by Nishan Velupillay. Jason Geria also came on, playing Lucas Herrington, while Paul Okon-Engstler replaced Connor Metcalfe in midfield.

The leveller came shortly after the break. Ar’Jany Martha found space in behind the Socceroos defence, and tucked it away one-on-one with Ryan. It was Curaçao’s first goal of the FIFA Series.

The game opened up after the equaliser. Curaçao created a number of openings, but so did the Socceroos. Aiden O’Neill fired wide in the 55th minute while goal scorer Mabil had a short over the crossbar ten minutes later.

There were four substitutions in the 66th minute. Jordy Bos, Nestory Irankunda, Riley McGree and Cameron Burgess all entered the field of play. They replaced Aziz Behich, Deni Juric, Awer Mabil and Kye Rowles.

The substitutes had an immediate impact. Nestory Irankunda kept the ball alive after a set-piece delivery. He played it to Riley McGree, whose cross in the middle found a diving Alessandro Circati. His header was powerfully struck into the back of the net to regain Australia’s advantage.

That advantage extended moments later. The ball was played to Jordy Bos inside the penalty area. Bos cut inside onto his right foot, took a couple of clever touches around the defender, and finished precisely onto the inside of the far post. It is his second goal in as many matches this window.

Nestory Irankunda made it four in the 80th minute. It was a beautiful piece of skill to skip past his defender and into open space in the box. His finish agonisingly trickled under the goalkeeper, but once it crossed the line, he celebrated with aplomb.

Popovic made two further changes after the goal, with Milos Degenek and Alex Robertson replacing Alessandro Circati and Aiden O’Neill.

Irankunda’s second came not long after, adding an exclamation point to his impact on the game. A lovely ball from Nishan Velupillay found his run in behind the defence. At that point, there was no catching him – and his finish was precise to make it five for Australia.

It will be a confidence boosting win in their final home game before the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Match Summary

Australia: 5 (Mabil 23', Circati 68', Bos 71', Irankunda 80', 84')
Curaçao: 1 (Martha 50')

Australia: 1. Mathew Ryan (GK), 4. Kye Rowles (21. Cameron Burgess 66'), 8. Connor Metcalfe (20. Paul Okon-Engstler 46'), 10. Ajdin Hrustic (9. Nishan Velupillay 46'), 11. Awer Mabil (14. Riley McGree 66'), 13. Aiden O’Neill (22. Alex Robertson 82'), 15. Kai Trewin, 16. Aziz Behich (5. Jordan Bos 66'), 23. Alessandro Circati (2. Milos Degenek 82'), 24. Deni Juric (7. Nestory Irankunda 66'), 26. Lucas Herrington (19. Jason Geria 46')

Unused substitutes: 12. Paul Izzo (GK), 18. Patrick Beach (GK), 3. Jacob Italiano, 6. Martin Boyle, 17. Patrick Yazbek, 25. Ante Suto