TUNISIA are blessed with Champions League fans but League One standard footballers whereas Australia have Championship quality players and supporters.
But in Mitchell Duke the Aussies have a striker who produced a World Cup-worthy header to get Operation Last 16 back on track.
The 31-year-old had a trial at West Ham nine years ago but now plays for Japanese outfit Fagiano Okayama after stints in Saudi Arabia and back home in Oz.
And you can bet the journeyman target man won’t have scored a better – or more important – goal in his life than this.
The narrow 1-0 win if Australia’s first World Cup clean sheet since 1974.
And following Duke’s stunning glancing header off the back of his noggin, videos quickly emerged of fans Down Under going bats*** crazy.
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After their 4-1 humbling by France, this was a must-win if Australia were to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2006.
Outnumbered in the Al Janoub Stadium by ten to one, Graham Arnold’s side stepped into a cauldron.
Yet fortunately for them, the Eagles of Carthage don’t have a forward to match their unrivalled backing.
They squandered big chances in their goalless opener against Denmark, and it was more of the same here.
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In their two games Tunisia have had 26 shots, only five of which were on target, and zero goals.
They have never reached the knockouts and now must beat reigning champs France in the final group game to stand a chance.
This Group D clash was desperately low on quality from both sides – other than Duke’s 23rd-minute winning goal.
Starting in their own box, a slick Aussie move found Craig Goodwin on the left.
His deflected cross bounced up perfectly for Duke but the header was exceptional, guiding it off the back of his head into the far corner.
The north Africans then had two great chances to equalise before the break.
Mohammed Drager was first, denied a seemingly certain goal by one of the blocks of the tournament by Stoke’s Harry Soutter.
Youssef Msakni was next, flashing a great chance wide at the near post.
Oz were in unfamiliar territory, leading at half-time in the World Cup for the first time in 18 games.
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And they were creaking towards the end as Tunisia pushed and pushed.
But without anyone capable of applying a decent finish, they held on to set up a huge game against Denmark.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
