When the Socceroos took to the field against Bangladesh on Thursday night, it marked 18 years to the day since their famous World Cup Qualifying penalties win over Uruguay, and the Australians made sure to celebrate in style.
It took just four minutes for the team to open their account, with Harry Souttar's header finding the back of the net, and they didn't look back from there, slotting seven total goals in a brutal takedown of Bangladesh.
Leading the charge was Jamie Maclaren, who came off the bench to record a hattrick, with goals in the 48th, 70th, and 84th minutes, while Mitch Duke claimed a brace of his own, and Brandon Borrello rounded out the scorers.
Making his Socceroos debut off the bench was 24-year-old Kusini Yengi, replacing Borrello at the 73rd minute, and said that finally donning the green-and-gold was a dream come true.
“It was a very proud moment, I don’t think it’s really sunk in. It’s amazing,” Yengi told Channel 10 after the match.
🧢 #638
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 16, 2023
🇦🇺 6-0 🇧🇩#AUSvBAN #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/9pDIx4DJO9
With their first World Cup Qualifier in the bag, the Socceroos now travel to Kuwait to take on Palestine, before a lengthy break ahead of next January's AFC Asian Cup group stage matches.
Socceroos World Cup Qualifiers
| GAME | DATE |
| Australia (7) def. Bangladesh (0) | Thu Nov 16 |
| Australia vs. Palestine | Wed Nov 22 |
| Australia vs. Lebanon | Thu Mar 21 |
| Australia vs. Lebanon | Tue Mar 26 |
| Australia vs. Bangladesh | Thu Jun 6 |
| Australia vs. Palestine | Tue Jun 11 |
