Australia forward Mitchell Duke dedicated his match-winning goal against Tunisia to his son and said it is “a moment I will hold very dear for the rest of my life”.
Duke took advantage of a positive start by Australia when he superbly flicked Craig Goodwin’s cross into the far corner to put them 1-0 up after 23 minutes.
That sparked an outburst of jubilant celebration from the small contingent of Australia fans behind the goal, which momentarily silenced the hostile and unwavering support for Tunisia.
Knowing defeat would mean an early exit from the World Cup, Australia held on to the narrow lead that keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.
“I spoke to my son when I got selected for the World Cup,” said Duke.
“You have to have that belief you can score [and] I told my son I would share that moment with him. [The celebration] was a little ‘J’ for the first letter of his name.
“I haven’t seen it yet but apparently he did it back to me in the stadium. It is a moment I will hold very dear for the rest of my life.”
Hissed and jeered throughout by striking clusters of fans draped in red at the Al Janoub Stadium, Australia held their nerve to claim their first victory at a World Cup since 2010.
They survived a desperate onslaught from Tunisia in the second half, with Youssef Msakni forcing goalkeeper Mathew Ryan into a save at his near post, though that came moments after Mathew Leckie had come inches away from connecting with Goodwin’s cross at the other end.
Stoke City defender Harry Souttar put in a superb performance, making several key blocks and tackles as Australia dug in.
Australia, who suffered a humbling defeat by France in their opening match, will take on tough opponents Denmark next – but with qualification in their own hands.
“At the end of the day, it’s just one game. Nothing will change for us,” said Australia boss Graham Arnold.
“I told the players I am very proud but we have achieved nothing at this moment. We are here and want to go as far as we can go.
“I don’t want emotion from the players – staying up all night looking at social media and all that stuff – I want them to recover and refocus.”
Significant victory for delighted Aussies
This was a crucial match for both nations given they face competition from defending world champions France and Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark to progress from Group D.
It could not have been a better start for Australia then, as they dominated the opening 15 minutes to leave Tunisia unable to get out of their half.
Goodwin’s crosses from the left were initially dealt with, but the ease with which Australia were getting joy down that side will have caused concern for Tunisia.
Eventually, one of those crosses paid off as Duke expertly flicked Goodwin’s delivery into the far corner and ran over to the touchline to receive a clamour of pats on the head from his team-mates.
That goal did little to silence the overwhelming majority of Tunisia fans in the Al Janoub Stadium, though, and it was their side who ended the first half stronger with two big opportunities to equalise.
Australia centre-back Souttar made a crucial, sliding block to deny Mohamed Drager, just minutes before Tunisia captain Msakni volleyed an effort inches wide.
Tunisia changed shape in the second half and put Australia under spells of relentless pressure. Aaron Mooy had to make another vital block, before Souttar yet again intervened to stop a dangerous counter-attack.
The anxiety was palpable in the stadium when Tunisia substitute Wahbi Khazri almost poked in a late equaliser, before six added minutes were signalled by the fourth official.
But Australia – who had to come through two play-offs to qualify for the tournament in Qatar – held on for a significant victory and they go into their final group match with all to play for.
Tunisia, who take on France in their final match, are all but out, though manager Jalel Kadri remains optimistic.
“Even the larger squads have been defeated by the underdogs. It is very disappointing we lost today, but we still have one more match to go,” said Kadri.
“We will play with all the confidence we have. We will play with our hearts out. I hope we will be lucky next time.
“We will let football surprise us. We will go all in and perform to our best levels.”
Player of the match
MooyAaron Mooy
Tunisia
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Squad number7Player nameMsakniAverage rating
5.82
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Squad number16Player nameDahmenAverage rating
5.72
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Squad number9Player nameJebali
Average rating5.68
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Squad number23Player nameSliti
Average rating5.64
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Squad number20Player nameDräger
Average rating5.54
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Squad number3Player nameTalbi
Average rating5.50
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Squad number4Player nameMeriah
Average rating5.49
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Squad number24Player nameAbdi
Average rating5.47
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Squad number11Player nameKhenissi
Average rating5.46
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Squad number10Player nameKhazri
Average rating5.42
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Squad number6Player nameBronn
Average rating5.41
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Squad number14Player nameLaïdouni
Average rating5.35
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Squad number17Player nameSkhiri
Average rating5.26
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Squad number13Player nameSassi
Average rating5.23
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Squad number21Player nameKechrida
Average rating5.06
Australia
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Squad number13Player nameMooy
Average rating8.91
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Squad number1Player nameRyan
Average rating8.21
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Squad number15Player nameDuke
Average rating8.10
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Squad number19Player nameSouttar
Average rating8.06
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Squad number7Player nameLeckie
Average rating7.85
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Squad number23Player nameGoodwin
Average rating7.83
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Squad number16Player nameBehich
Average rating7.72
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Squad number4Player nameRowles
Average rating7.51
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Squad number22Player nameIrvine
Average rating7.47
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Squad number14Player nameMcGree
Average rating7.34
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Squad number5Player nameKaracic
Average rating7.29
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Squad number9Player nameMaclaren
Average rating6.78
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Squad number2Player nameDegenek
Average rating6.73
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Squad number10Player nameHrustic
Average rating6.72
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Squad number26Player nameBaccus
Average rating6.48
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Squad number11Player nameMabil
Average rating6.09
Line-ups
Tunisia
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Dahmen
- 6BronnSubstituted forKechridaat 73′minutes
- 4Meriah
- 3Talbi
- 20DrägerSubstituted forSassiat 45′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17Skhiri
- 14LaïdouniBooked at 26minsSubstituted forKhazriat 67′minutes
- 24AbdiBooked at 64mins
- 23Sliti
- 7Msakni
- 9JebaliSubstituted forKhenissiat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Mathlouthi
- 2Ifa
- 5Ghandri
- 8Mejbri
- 10Khazri
- 11Khenissi
- 12Maâloul
- 13Sassi
- 15Ben Romdhane
- 18Chaalali
- 19Jaziri
- 21Kechrida
- 22Ben Saïd
- 25Ben Slimane
- 26Hassen
Australia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Ryan
- 5KaracicSubstituted forDegenekat 75′minutes
- 19Souttar
- 4Rowles
- 16Behich
- 7LeckieSubstituted forBaccusat 85′minutes
- 22Irvine
- 13Mooy
- 23GoodwinSubstituted forMabilat 85′minutes
- 15DukeSubstituted forMaclarenat 64′minutes
- 14McGreeSubstituted forHrusticat 64′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Degenek
- 6Tilio
- 8Wright
- 9Maclaren
- 10Hrustic
- 11Mabil
- 12Redmayne
- 17Devlin
- 18Vukovic
- 20Deng
- 21Kuol
- 24King
- 25Cummings
- 26Baccus
- Referee:
- Daniel Siebert
- Attendance:
- 41,823
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Tunisia 0, Australia 1.
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Second Half ends, Tunisia 0, Australia 1.
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Ferjani Sassi (Tunisia) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
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Hand ball by Ferjani Sassi (Tunisia).
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Attempt blocked. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia).
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Milos Degenek (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Montassar Talbi (Tunisia).
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Milos Degenek (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt saved. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wajdi Kechrida.
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Attempt blocked. Naïm Sliti (Tunisia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Taha Yassine Khenissi.
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Attempt blocked. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Australia. Keanu Baccus replaces Mathew Leckie.
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Substitution, Australia. Awer Mabil replaces Craig Goodwin.
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Attempt saved. Montassar Talbi (Tunisia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Foul by Ali Abdi (Tunisia).
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Ajdin Hrustic (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Corner, Tunisia. Conceded by Harry Souttar.
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Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jackson Irvine (Australia).
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