how Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe stunned Turkey
Updated ,first published
An hour before kick-off, no one knew whether Nestory Irankunda would start the Socceroos’ World Cup opener against Türkiye or whether coach Tony Popovic would opt to use the lively attacker from the bench.
Of course, no one expected the head coach to start Paul Okon Jr. in midfield ahead of veteran vice-captain Jackson Irvine, or for Patrick Beach to edge out captain Mat Ryan. Connor Metcalfe’s role was also unclear, given that he started Australia’s first friendly against Mexico but did not start their second friendly against Switzerland.
But these bold electoral choices, tailored to fit a particular system, turned out to be essential components of the two main goals. Sunday’s famous win in Vancouver.
A master class in counter-attacking
This was a game full of transitional moments and, given Popovic’s defensive formation, Australia’s best route to goal. Irankunda’s opening was a showcase of how lethal a lightning-quick counterattack can be when executed with perfect timing and skill.
It looks like this.
While Patrick Beach made a save to prevent Arda Güler, his teammates started running towards the Turkish goal. Beach weighs his options and passes the ball to the left for Cam Burgess, whose first pass finds Okon on the left wing. Okon gives a calming touch and looks up to see Iranunda high up the pitch. The ensuing pass is long enough to take several struggling Turkish players out of the picture, and as it falls in front of Iranunda’s run, Ismail Yüksek loses the ball before he can even reach it.
This is where Iranunda’s individual trick comes into play. The Watford winger passes Merih Demiral with a light touch in the outfield and cuts in to continue where he left off. Then, with Demiral and Yüksek approaching from the left and behind, Abdulkerim Bardakçı rounded Irananunda from the right as he reached the top of the penalty area. The image is one of Iranunda trapped inside a triangle. However, by then he had already taken his place and prepared his shot by using the difference before it was too late.
The most important element of the whole move is its speed: the time between the moment Beach releases the ball to Burgess and the moment Iranunda’s finish leaves his boot is just 11 seconds. Many Turkish players were still stranded in the other half of the field as Australia’s opening striker stepped aside to punch the corner flag, Tim Cahill-style.
Alone magic in action
The second goal begins when Alessandro Circati gets a slight lead past defenders inside the Australian half, releasing Metcalfe. Metcalfe initially positions himself in a wide open area with his back to goal and then turns with a pass from Circati. While doing this, he sees Zeki Çelik outside on his right and chooses to run inside.
Right now, Metcalfe has a choice. He can direct the ball instead of Nishan Velupillay, who is running towards Türkiye’s goal. Or it may have cracks itself. Popovic revealed after the game that he and his coaching staff had encouraged Metcalfe to shoot more often and use his left foot better. So what is he doing? He shoots with his left foot. And it’s a finishing touch that slides between Türkiye goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır and his near post.
“He’s probably the fittest he’s ever been with us,” Popovic said of full-time. “He played a few games with St Pauli before coming to the camp. You can see the benefits of that.”
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