This match was always going to be billed as the battle of its also-rans, in its appropriate spot as first up and squarely on Saturday’s undercard, given that the defending world champions were facing off against every expert’s pick for dark horses in Group C’s other outing. However, if either Tunisia or Australia were to defeat the other, they would have a sizable number of points needed to have a chance at a surprise last-16 position and would just need a victory against its European counterparts to do so.
Mitch Duke, a striker, scored the game’s lone goal with a deft header in the first half, and Australia then clung on desperately to silence Tunisia’s boisterous supporters.
After being soundly defeated 4-1 by tournament hosts France in their opening match, Australia is currently second in Group D with three points from two games.
The Socceroos’ final group game is against Denmark, who will play France later on Saturday. After that, the knockout phase will begin.
READ ALSO: 2022 World Cup’s Hosts, Qatar, Become First Team To Be Eliminated
When Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, and Mark Viduka were on the team, they had their finest World Cup performance in 2006 when they also advanced to the round of 16.
At Al Janoub Stadium, where their supporters were greatly outnumbered, Graham Arnold’s Australia began out to deafening whistles in front of 42,000 people despite lacking players of that calibre.
Whistles from the thronging columns of bouncing, screaming, and flag-waving Tunisia supporters greeted each touch from Australia.
Prior to this, Australia had only previously won two games at a World Cup, and they qualified for this edition via a playoff.
However, they got off to a better start than Tunisia, who were trying to go to the knockout round for the first time and held Denmark to a scoreless draw in their opening match.
Australia’s tough team dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match without registering a shot, and fans saw this on primetime Saturday night television.
The first goal-scoring opportunity for Tunisia came in the 19th minute, but captain Youssef Msakni was forced out and defender Mohamed Drager blasted over.
Australia got the lead that their possession deserved in the 23rd minute.
Craig Goodwin, who scored the first goal in the defeat to France, crossed the ball from the left, and Duke’s header bounced back over his own shoulder and into the goal.
The 31-year-old centre striker, who plays in Japan, got into an argument with the Tunisian bench after being shoved over at the halfway point.
With Manchester United substitute Hannibal Mejbri, the altercation came to an end with a handshake.
As halftime drew near, Stoke City defender Harry Souttar, another player with English citizenship, produced a brave last-ditch block from the threatening Msakni.
When Msakni finally managed to elude Souttar in stoppage time, he sidefooted wide from close range, leaving Tunisia’s supporters with their heads in their hands.
At the half, Drager was replaced by Ferjani Sassi, a midfielder, by coach Jalel Kadri, and the game, which had been simmering up until that time, threatened to blow up.
Australia was on the attack and just missed adding a second goal when Mathew Leckie failed to connect on a low cross as he dived in front of the net.
Minutes later, goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan stopped Msakni from close range, and Australia narrowly avoided defeat despite strong pressure, severely jeopardising Tunisia’s World Cup hopes.
