
Mitch Duke opens the scoring for Australia against Tunisia
Mitch Duke’s first-half header was enough to see off Tunisia and rekindle Australia’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout rounds in a 1-0 triumph.
Duke converted Craig Goodwin’s left-wing cross in the 23rd minute, with the Socceroos having to withstand some late pressure to secure a win that means they have everything to play for in their final Group D match against Denmark.
Tunisia has one point from two games and will need to defeat defending champions France on Wednesday and hope for other outcomes to go their way.
Despite a frenzied start, Australia was unable to capitalize on a succession of crosses into the Tunisian box.
Delivering the ball from wide areas was clearly an important component of Australia’s strategy, and it paid off halfway through the first half. Duke began the move with a beautiful touch in midfield before racing into the box and deftly flicking Goodwin’s deflected cross beyond Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.
Tunisia improved as an attacking force in the first half and had two chances to equalize before the interval.
After 41 minutes, Issam Jebali’s strong play set up Mohamed Drager at the far post, only for defender Harry Souttar to race across and stop his goalbound attempt.
The tireless Jebali then turned up on the right, but skipper Youssef Msakni shot his low center wide.
Tunisia dominated possession in the second half, but their desire to score an equalizer nearly cost them again after 71 minutes, with replacement Jamie Maclaren running down the left before hitting a low cross inches in front of the falling Mathew Leckie.
A second goal was not required in the end, as Australia’s tenacious backline – led by Souttar – did enough to keep Tunisia at bay and record only the Socceroos’ second clean sheet in 18 World Cup appearances.
What does it imply? Australia has shot in the last 16.
Australia is back in contention for qualification, but they won’t know what they need until after Denmark’s match against France later on Saturday.
The Socceroos’ next match is against Denmark, who have only made the last 16 once before in 2006.
Tunisia need snookers. A win over Les Bleus in their final encounter is required, but it appears doubtful even if France has already qualified by the time they meet at Education City Stadium.
Excellent Souttar keeps Tunisia at bay.
Souttar, a Stoke City centre-half, was a behemoth in the heart of Australia’s defense.
The 24-year-old made a crucial intervention in the first half to deny Drager, and then again in the second half as Taha Yassine Khenissi sought to capitalize on a rare slip from Kye Rowles.
Jebali’s tenacity impresses.
Tunisia’s most perilous moments were all orchestrated by the tireless Jebali. With his desire to run the channels, the 30-year-old, who plays for Odense in Denmark, was a continuous cause of annoyance for Australia’s backline.
Unfortunately for the North Africans, his build-up brilliance was not matched by clinical finishing, with both Drager and Msakni squandering excellent chances to score.
Msakni had six shots, the highest by a Tunisian player in a World Cup competition, but it was a frustrating day for his team as Australia kept their first World Cup clean sheet since a 0-0 stalemate against Chile in 1974.
Opta statistics:
- Australia has scored the first goal in both of its games; before to the 2022 World Cup, they had only gone 1-0 ahead in two of their 16 World Cup games.
- Their shutout stopped a streak of 14 straight World Cup games in which they had conceded.
- Australia has won the World Cup three times in a row against teams from various continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa), tying Algeria and Iran for the joint-highest such record.
- Tunisia has failed to score in 53% of its World Cup matches (9/17), but this is only the second time they have failed to score in their first two games in a single edition (after 1998).
- Duke has five goals in his last eight starts for Australia in all competitions, four of which have been headers.
What comes next?
On Wednesday, Australia will face Denmark, while Tunisia will face reigning champions France.