Australia beats Tunisia at World Cup Group D-Xinhua

Australia beats Tunisia at World Cup Group D

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-11-26 20:52:45

Aymen Dahmen (C), goalkeeper of Tunisia, fails to make a save during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

DOHA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mitchell Duke's lone brilliant header helped Australia beat Tunisia 1-0 in FIFA 2022 World Cup Group D here on Saturday.

Returned to Al Janoub Stadium after the 4-1 defeat against defending champion France, the Socceroos intensified their attacks with three forwards at the very beginning of the match. In the 23rd minute, Duke scored the lone goal into the far corner with a close range header.

The goal, thanks to Craig Goodwin's deflected cross, also marked the 50th of the 2022 World Cup.

After a goalless draw against Denmark earlier this week, Tunisia pinned its hope of qualifying for the knockout stage on the match. Mohamed Drager unleashed a shot from the box in the 41st minute but was blocked by opposing defender Thomas Deng.

Tunisia, in the second half, build up their confidence by switching their formation, and was close to an equalizer through attempts from Ferjani Sassi and captain Youssef Msakni in the 61st and 71st minutes.

In the last group match on Wednesday, Tunisia will play France at the Education City Stadium, while Australia stays at Al Janoub Stadium to meet Denmark.

Players of Tunisia react before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Fans react before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Graham Arnold, head coach of Australia, reacts before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Fans react before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Players of Australia pose for group photos before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

A fan reacts before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

A fan reacts before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Players of Tunisia pose for group photos before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

 

Mitchell Duke (top) of Australia vies for a header with Montassar Talbi of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Players of Tunisia gather before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Fran Karacic (L) of Australia vies for a header with Ali Abdi of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

Mitchell Duke (2nd R) of Australia celebrates with teammate Mathew Leckie (1st R) after scoring during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Graham Arnold (C), head coach of Australia, reacts during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Mitchell Duke (R) of Australia celebrates with teammate Jackson Irvine of Australia after scoring during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Youssef Msakni (L) of Tunisia tackles Mathew Leckie (C) of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Mitchell Duke (L) of Australia scores during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Riley McGree (L) of Australia vies with Ellyes Skhiri of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Ali Abdi (L) of Tunisia vies with Mitchell Duke of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Riley McGree (L) of Australia vies with Aissa Laidouni of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Players of Australia gather before the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

Mitchell Duke (bottoom R) of Australia celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Mohamed Drager (bottom) of Tunisia reacts after falling down during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Mohamed Drager of Tunisia reacts during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

Mitchell Duke (L) of Australia vies for a header with Ali Abdi of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Aissa Laidouni (R) of Tunisia competes during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Youssef Msakni (1st R) of Tunisia shoots during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Taha Yassine Khenissi (C) of Tunisia vies with Kye Rowles (R) of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Mathew Ryan, goalkeeper of Australia, throws the ball during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Youssef Msakni (C) of Tunisia shoots during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Naim Sliti (L) of Tunisia vies with Aaron Mooy of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Mathew Ryan (1), goalkeeper of Australia, punches the ball during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Riley McGree (C) of Australia competes during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

Ferjani Sassi (L) of Tunisia competes during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Naim Sliti (R) of Tunisia vies with Jackson Irvine of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Youssef Msakni (bottom) of Tunisia competes during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Harry Souttar (R) of Australia vies with Taha Yassine Khenissi of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Harry Souttar (L) of Australia vies with Taha Yassine Khenissi of Tunisia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Taha Yassine Khenissi (top) of Tunisia vies with Harry Souttar of Australia during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Wahbi Khazri (R) of Tunisia competes during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Youssef Msakni (front R) of Tunisia shoots during the Group D match between Tunisia and Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)