FIFA World Cup 2022: Australia get a much-needed win, beat Tunisia 1-0 in a do-or-die clash

Mitchell Duke (Source: Twitter)

Australia and Tunisia battled it out in the opening group D match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Janoub Stadium, Al-Wakrah on Saturday. The opening goal of the game was scored by Michelle Duke through a header in the 23rd minute.

Australia’s opening game against France was a 4-1 drubbing. The Socceroos went into the game knowing that it would be a do or die encounter for them. The side led by Graham Arnold went into the game with the thought that it would have been curtains for them in the FIFA World Cup 2022 with a game remaining. They piled the pressure up on Tunisia and forced them to spend the opening half of the game inside their own territory.

Australia got all the pieces right in the 23rd minute with Craig Godwi’s left wing cross taking a deflection before finding Duke, who did superb work before pushing the header past a diving Aymen Dahmen and inside the far post.

Tunisia responeded too late in the game

Tunisia should have levelled the scores before heading into the break as five minutes were added to the end of the first half. Issam Jibali drove a dangerous low cross into the Australian goal post but captain Youssef Msakni’s finish near the post went wide.

Tunisia were better after the break but they were no match for Australia, who now are at second position in Group D and are comfortably ahead of France by three points. France will play Denmark on Sunday afternoon. On the other side, Tunisia are sitting at the bottom of the points table with no goals and just one point against their name.

The goal from Duke which happened in the 23rd minute was very much similar to the one in 2010 that Tim Cahill scored against Serbia and against Chile four years later. Australia got a crucial win and they have spurred up their campaign but when it comes to Tunisia, their prospects are slim as they face France on Wednesday.