There’s a surprise in the Group D match. Australia wins 2-0 against Turkey. The goals are scored by former GC striker Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.
Turkey’s first appearance in a World Cup finals since 2002 was supposed to be a day of celebration. But 24 years after that exhilarating tournament, in which the team finished third, the opening match in Vancouver brought a rude awakening. Despite significantly more possession and shots on goal, the team led by young star Arda Güler and captain Hakan Calhanoglu fell to Australia 0-2.
The match was well summed up by a scene in the 77th minute, when Kerem Aktürkoglu, completely unmarked from seven meters out in a central position, was denied by Patrick Beach, who surprisingly got the nod in goal for the Australians over the experienced Mathew Ryan. Vincenzo Montella’s team recorded 30 shots over 90 minutes. However, they managed nothing more than a shot off the post by Abdülkerim Bardacki.
The Australians proved far more efficient. Nestory Irankunda capitalized on the very first chance in the 27th minute. The 20-year-old, who plays for Watford in the English Championship and spent six months on loan with Grasshoppers in 2025, outmaneuvered Merih Demiral on a counterattack and calmly slotted home to give Australia a surprise lead. As the Turks pushed for the equalizer in the second half, Connor Metcalfe of St. Pauli sealed the deal with another quick counterattack.
A good omen for Turkey: Twenty-four years ago, they also suffered a defeat in their opening match—back then, they lost 1-2 to eventual World Cup champions Brazil in a memorable game.
Live ticker recap
85.
Substitution in Türkiye
85.
Substitution out Türkiye
Kerem Aktürkoglu
Striker
84.
Substitution in Australia
84.
Substitution out Australia
84.
Substitution in Australia
Jackson Irvine
Midfielder
84.
Substitution out Australia
Paul Okon-Engstler
Midfielder
81.
Substitution in Türkiye
81.
Substitution out Türkiye
81.
Substitution in Türkiye
81.
Substitution out Türkiye
Ismail Yüksek
Midfielder
75.
Goal for Australia, 2:0 through Connor Metcalfe
Connor Metcalfe
Midfielder
74.
Substitution in Australia
74.
Substitution out Australia
74.
Substitution in Australia
74.
Substitution out Australia
62.
Substitution in Türkiye
62.
Substitution out Türkiye
Orkun Kökçü
Midfielder
61.
Substitution in Australia
Nishan Velupillay
Striker
61.
Substitution out Australia
Nestory Irankunda
Midfielder
46.
Substitution in Türkiye
46.
Substitution out Türkiye
Baris Alper Yilmaz
Midfielder
27.
Goal for Australia, 1:0 through Nestory Irankunda (Paul Okon-Engstler)
Nestory Irankunda
Midfielder
Assist: Paul Okon-Engstler
Midfielder
