AUSTRALIA bounced back from their France humiliation with a huge win over African giants Tunisia.
Mitchell Duke’s brilliant first half header was enough to secure three points for the Aussie’s.
And it marks Australia’s first victory at the World Cup since the South African edition in 2010,
- RESULT: Tunisia 0-1 Australia
- Tunisia XI: Dahmen, Bronn, Meriah, Talbi, Drager, Skhiri, Laidouni, Abdi, Sliti, Jebali, Mskani
- Australia XI: Ryan, Kracic, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, McGree, Mooy, Irvine, Leckie, Duke, Goodwin
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Final round to remember for Aussies
Going into the final round of group games, The Wallabies sit second in the group, behind France who play against Denmark later.
Australia who will face Denmark in their final game could find the game takes a winner takes all tag with the victors progressing to the knockout rounds.
Graham Arnold’s men will be watching on, seeing what is required of them to make history for his team.
Souttar inspires Australian victory
The Wallabies centre-back was a rock in the heart of defence for Australia today and frustrated Tunisia.
Even when the Eagles of Carthage thought they had broke through, Souttar was there covering to keep them out.
As the stats show, Graham Arnold’s side were deserved winners today.
In the ground – full time analysis
Sun reporter Oscar Paul reports from Qatar:
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.
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.
In their two games Tunisia have had 26 shots, only five of which were on target, and zero goals.
Australia were in unchartered territory, leading at half time in a World Cup game.
But without anyone capable of applying a decent finish for Tunisia, they held on to set up a huge game against Denmark.
Carthage has fallen
The Eagles of Carthage had their wings clipped today by the Socceroos.
After their performance against The Danes, Tunisia will have fancied their chances of winning this game today.
Their first half performance was just not good enough and gave Australia a foothold in the game.
Despite a much better second half, they could not break down The Wallabies defence who held on for the three points.
Credit: Reuters FT: Tunisia 0-1 Australia
The men from down under have won their first World Cup match since 2010.
Great performance from Graham Arnold’s men.
Tunisia disappoint their hoards of travelling fans.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
90+6. Australia break with Tunisia lacking numbers at the back.
Mabil holds onto the ball rather than finding a team mate.
His manager is livid with him.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
90+4. The grains of sand begin to run dry.
Tunisia resorting to long balls into Australian territory.
The Wallabies are holding on, just.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
90+2. These additional six minutes may make or break Tunisia’s World Cup in Qatar.
They are getting plenty of balls into the box but just cannot find that final pass.
Australia have everyone behind the ball, defending so deep.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
90. We are going to have six additional minutes added.
Tunisia are throwing everything at The Wallabies now.
Graham Arnold will need his team to stay strong for these final stages of the game.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
88. Slitti is playing much better this half for Tunisia.
Jinking passed challenges in the box he is just stretching a little for his final shot which is blocked.
The Wallabies defence have done brilliantly to protect Ryan in goal today.
Credit: Getty Tunisia 0-1 Australia
86. Leckie and Goodwin come off for Mabil and Baccus.
Time is running out for Tunisia.
Mistake by Rowles on the halfway line, gifts possession to Tunisia.
Another great challenge from Souttar to snuff out the chance.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
84. Talbi hits a ball from the edge of the box on the volley.
He did well to control his shot but it was never going to cause Ryan any problems as it was straight at him.
Australia are looking to make some more changes.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
82. The noise of the travelling Tunisia fans quietens as soon as Australia snuff out the attack.
The Africans are trying to utilise the long ball more and more.
Claiming for a penalty from their corner, the referee is not interested and it seems VAR isn’t either.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
80. Australia come forward looking for that second goal that will give them some breathing space.
It could be a very tense ending to the game if they still hold their 1-0 lead.
Ryan comes out to clear a direct ball from Tunisia, clearing the ball into touch.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
78. Australia are leaving it all out on the pitch here.
Not pulling out of any 50/50 that presents itself.
Leckie seems to have a problem as he challenges for the ball.
The physio team come on to offer him some treatment.
Credit: AP
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
76. The Tunisia fans came here today in confident spirits.
Australia have really knocked the wind out of their sails.
With fifteen minutes remaining, the size of the task at hand becomes more of a reality.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
74. Tunisia makes a couple of changes looking to freshen things up.
They need to make something happen now.
Aaron Mooy tries a shot from distance but does not get over the ball enough and cannot keep it down.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
72. Australia are getting 11 players behind the all when not in possession.
They are still unable to prevent Tunisia fashioning a shooting chance.
Ryan is equal to the effort.
Msakni tries to beat the keeper at his near post but Ryan parries the ball out.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
70. Tunisia lose the ball to the Australian front line but immediately win the ball back,
They are passing the ball around looking for options.
Australia seem to be closing down the options available to them more.
Credit: AP Tunisia 0-1 Australia
68. With just over half an hour remaining, time is starting to run out for the Eagles of Carthage.
While defeat here would not end their hopes of qualifying, it certainly makes it a much more difficult task.
They would need a positive result against France in their final game.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
66. There are bodies going down all over the pitch at the moment.
The referee is not buying any of it fortunately for The Wallabies.
Laidouni comes off for Khazri.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia – Abdi yellow card
64. Mitchell Duke comes off for Jamie MacClaren.
Hrustic also enters the fray for Australia.
The manger getting some fresh legs on to cope with the Tunisian threat.
Ali Abdi is booked for a heavy challenge.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
62. Sassi tries his luck from distance but he is troubling the ball boys more than Ryan in the Australian goal.
This is proving to be a sterner test of The Wallabies back line.
The Tunisian physical presence is testing Australia.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
60. Abdi was such an integral player for the Eagles of Carthage in their first World Cup match.
He has not been able to get forward as much against Australia.
It cuts down the supply to Jebali as the lone striker.
Credit: Getty Tunisia 0-1 Australia
58. Kadri will be much happier with his side’s performance since the interval.
They are looking much more like the side that caused Denmark so many problems in their opening game.
The Tunisia fans are making some noise to spur their team on.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
