Tunisia vs Australia final score, result: Mitchell Duke goal secures historic Socceroos win at World Cup

Bryn Palmer

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Tunisia vs Australia final score, result: Mitchell Duke goal secures historic Socceroos win at World Cup image

Australia boosted their hopes of reaching the 2022 World Cup knockout stages with a nailbiting victory over Tunisia.

Mitchell Duke's superb header – glancing home Craig Goodwin's deflected cross in the 23rd minute – proved to be the winner as the Socceroos claimed their first World Cup finals win since beating Serbia in 2010.

Graham Arnold's side, beaten 4-1 by France in their opener, will now face Denmark in their final group game on Wednesday, November 30, in buoyant mood as they aim to match their feat of 2006 in reaching the last 16. 

Tunisia, after an opening draw with Denmark, also had hopes of getting out of the group stage for the first time.

But they spurned several good chances, with Mohamed Drager denied by a brilliant last-ditch block from Australia defender Harry Souttar, who repeated the trick to prevent Taha Yassine Khenissi getting a shot away late on.

Captain Youssef Msakni and Wahbi Khazri also wasted good chances as Tunisia were left to pick themselves off the canvas before tackling group favourites France on Wednesday.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Tunisia vs Australia at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the Group D match in Qatar.

MORE: Poland vs Saudi Arabia live score and match updates from World Cup

Tunisia vs Australia score

  1H 2H Final
Tunisia 0 0 0
Australia 1 0 1

Goals:
AUS - 23rd min - Mitchell Duke 

Confirmed lineups:

Tunisia lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 16. Dahmen (GK) — 6. Bronn, 4. Meriah, 3. Talbi — 20. Drager (Sassi, 46), 17. Skhiri, 14. Laidouni, 24. Abdi — 23. Sliti, 7. Msakni — 9. Jebali

Australia lineup (4-1-4-1), right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 5. Karacic, 19. Souttar, 4. Rowles, 16. Behich — 13. Mooy — 23. Goodwin, 22. Irvine, 14. McGree, 7. Leckie — 15. Duke

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Tunisia vs Australia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

Great scenes at the final whistle as coach Graham Arnold gathers his players into a huddle including injured winger Martin Boyle, who punches the air with his crutch as the Socceroos celebrate a momentous World Cup victory.

FULL-TIME: Tunisia 0-1 Australia 

It doesn't matter! It's all over. the Socceroos have their first World Cup victory since 2010. Fair dinkum! 

90th min+6: Awer Mabil breaks away into the Tunisia penalty area but mis-controls it with fellow sub Jamie Maclaren screaming for it in the middle. 

90th min+3: Tunisia's frustration evident now. Ferjani Sassi collects another yellow card for a poor challenge.

90th min+2: More classy play from Aaron Mooy. The Celtic man has had a huge influence in that deep-lying midfield role, breaking up and distributing intelligently.

90th min: We'll have SIX minutes of added time. Tunisia throwing plenty of men forward now, but have they left it too late?

88th min: Chance for Tunisia! Wajdi Kechrida gets down the right and puts a good ball across, but fellow sub Wahbi Khazri can only steer it straight at Mat Ryan with his left foot. Should have done better! 

86th min: Taha Yassine Khenissi is in the clear and bearing down on Australia's goal! But Harry Souttar gets back to make another brilliant block, just as he did at the end of the first half. The Stoke City man has been outstanding.

Watch if you're in Australia:

84th min: Awer Mabil and Keanu Baccus getting a late run for Australia as they use up some more time with a couple more substitutions.

83rd min: Ali Abdi launches a long throw into the penalty area and Australia clear it as far as Montassar Talbi, 30 yards out. The Tunisian defender connects well with an ambitious volley, but it's easy for Mat Ryan.

80th min: Tunisia have had nine attempts at goal in this game to Australia's five. But only two from each side have been on target. And the Socceroos have the all-important goal as this game enters its final 10 minutes, plus added time. Can Australia hold on from here?

Watch if you're in Australia:

75th min: Australia making another substitution - Milos Degenek taking over from Fran Karacic at right-back.

72nd min: More changes for Tunisia, with Wajdi Kechrida and Taha Yassine Khenissi both coming on, Issam Jebali and Dylan Bronn making way.

71st min: Break-out from the Socceroos and substitute Jamie Maclaren is away down the left with Mathew Leckie free in the middle! But Maclaren fizzes in the cross with a bit too much power and Leckie can't get on the end of it. 

70th min: Australia had never led a World Cup match at half-time until today. And they haven't won a game at the finals since a 2-1 victory against Serbia in 2010. They have 20-odd minutes here to change that record.

67th min: Tunisia bring on one of their own main men, Wahbi Khazri coming on for Aissa Laidouni.

64th min: Tunisia's Ali Abdi gets a yellow card for a late challenge. 

63rd min: A double change for Australia, and star No. 10 Ajdin Hrustic, who according to Graham Arnold is "95% fit", is on, along with striker Jamie Maclaren. Riley McGree and goalscorer Mitchell Duke make way.

59th min: Lovely play down the left flank by Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni and a decent ball into the box, but Mat Ryan gets a big hand to it and beats it away.

56th min: Australia win a 50-50 duel in the middle of the pitch and Jackson Irvine has options ahead of him as he drives towards the Tunisia area. He shifts it left to Craig Goodwin, whose cross-cum-shot flies across the face of the goal, without finding a taker.

53rd min: Tunisia with a free-kick in a central position. Naim Sliti floats it in, but the Aussie defence deals with it. 

52nd min: Tunisia applying some pressure now, and a shout goes up for handball in the box as Australia clear their lines. Nothing doing though.

46th min: Tunisia have made a change at the interval, bringing on Ferjani Sassi for Mohamed Drager.

Mitchell Duke's goal celebration, by the way, was for his son, who is in the crowd. Lovely stuff.

Watch if you're in the UK:

HALF-TIME: Tunisia 0-1 Australia

Great first half from the Socceroos, who deserve to be in front, courtesy of Mitchell Duke's superb header. 

Fair to say Australian fans enjoyed that goal.

Watch if you're in the USA:

45th+2 mins: Big chance for Tunisia! Great ball in from Issam Jebali from the right flank but Youssef Msakni drills it wide.  Not the easiest angle, but he should have got it on target.  We're well into five minutes of added time by the way. 

44th min: Tunisia living dangerously here. A sliced clearance gives Fran Karacic a chance, but the Aussie full-back slashes at it left-footed and the chance is gone. Aissa Laidouni, already on a yellow card, kicks the ball away in frustration. A bit fortunate the referee missed that.

40th min: Brilliant block from Harry Souttar! Issam Jebali barges his way into the Australia penalty area and the ball is played to Mohamed Drager in space on the right. But as he pulls the trigger, Souttar slides in to divert it out for a corner. Excellent last-ditch defending.

Watch if you're in the USA:

37th min: First we've seen of Youssef Msakni, whose dribbles caused problems for Denmark. The Tunisia captain drives deep into Australian territory before his run is halted.

34th min: Not a great delivery from Craig Goodwin. Jackson Irvine tries to improvise at the near post, but it was asking a lot and the ball trickles out for a goal-kick.

33rd min: A few tackles flying in now. Dylan Bronn fouls Riley McGree, and then Tunisia concede the first corner of the game.

26th min: Aissa Laidouni, who certainly wears on his heart on his sleeve, shows his frustration at this turn of events with a wild hack at Craig Goodwin. Yellow card for the Tunisian midfielder.

23rd min: GOAL FOR AUSTRALIA! Craig Goodwin's cross from the left takes a deflection but Mitchell Duke adjusts brilliantly and glances a header across the keeper into the far corner. Great finish!

Watch the goal if you're in Australia:

Watch the goal if you're in the US:

21st min: First half-chance for Tunisia! Mohamed Drager with a bit of space 25 yards out. He sets his sights and gives it a good thump, but that's always rising. 

18th min: Mitchell Duke jumps for a high ball and lands awkwardly, holding his back. But the Socceroos striker is OK to continue.

15th min: Mathew Leckie's neat turn is too good for Ellyes Skhiri, who brings the Aussie down. Plenty of whistles and jeers from the noisy Tunisian contingent in the crowd. 

12th min: Craig Goodwin, Australia's scorer against France, has space to get a cross in from the left flank. But again a Tunisian defender gets to it first. More quality needed with the final ball...  

10th min: Decent start from the Socceroos, who have had the bulk of possession and spent most of the first 10 minutes in the Tunisian half. But no chances to show for it yet.

6th min: Make no mistake, Tunisia are going to be a tough nut to crack for the Socceroos. The Carthage Eagles have had nine clean sheets in their last 10 games, a 5-1 defeat by Brazil the exception. Aaron Mooy slings a free-kick into the box, but Tunisia get it away.

3rd min: A frenetic opening, and Australia coach Graham Arnold is trying to get an urgent message to his players. But he's struggling to make himself heard amid the din. 

1st min: And we're underway! Australia playing in their black away kit today by the way, with a lime green trim. Tunisia all in white...

5mins to kickoff: It's time for the anthems. Tunisia first. And now 'Advance Australia Fair'.  It's nearly time...

7mins to kickoff:  What has Socceroos coach Graham Arnold told his team before this game? "Suck it in," he says. "It's going to be a great crowd and a great atmosphere and we are here to put a smile on the faces of the Australian fans. We will be doing everything to make them proud."

10mins to kickoff: A couple of stats for you before the teams make their entrance.

Against Denmark in their opening match, Tunisia recorded just their second ever World Cup clean sheet despite playing 16 matches in the competition before. 

After losing 4-1 to France in their opener, Australia have now lost six of their last seven World Cup matches, conceding a whopping 18 goals across that stint. 

15mins to kickoff:  You're ready, right? 

20mins to kickoff: Even without Martin Boyle, the Hibernian winger sadly denied a World Cup bow after damaging his ACL knee ligaments, there is a strong Caledonian connection to this Australia outfit.

The 'Scottish Socceroos' include Aberdeen-born Stoke defender Harry Souttar, whose elder brother John plays for Rangers and Scotland, and Edinburgh-born striker Jason Cummings, who won two caps for his native country in friendlies in 2017-18 before switching allegiance to Australia, qualifying through his mother. 
 
In addition to Boyle, Dundee United full-back Aziz Behich, Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy, Hearts trio Nathaniel Atkinson, Cameron Devlin and Kye Rowles, and St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus also play in the Scottish Premiership, while Jackson Irvine played for Celtic, Kilmarnock, Ross County and Hibs before heading to St Pauli in Germany.

Mooy first moved to Scotland for a loan spell with St Mirren in 2010 and now resides in Glasgow with his Scottish wife Nicola, after joining Celtic last summer. 

Och aye, the Roo!

30mins to kickoff: The Tunisian fans are in good voice as they head to the Al Janoub Stadium!  Atmosphere building nicely as we head towards kickoff...

45mins to kickoff:  Who might have a spot of bad breath in the Socceroos squad?! And who is now known as 'The Qatar Torch'?

1hr to kickoff: And we also have the Tunisia team. Coach Jalel Kadri also restricts himself to just the one change, with Naim Sliti taking over from Anis Ben Slimane as one of the two players - along with captain Youssef Msakni - providing support up top for striker Issam Jebali.  Star player Wahbi Khazri, who wasn't used against Denmark, is on the bench.

1hr 10 mins to kickoff: The Australia team is out! And here are the men from Down Under who will be lining up from the start today. Just the one change from the side which started against France, with Brescia defender Fran Karacic taking over from Nathaniel Atkinson.

 

1hr 20 mins to kickoff: Another Tunisian player to impress in their opening draw with Denmark was forward Youssef Msakni. The 32-year-old was particularly effective running at the Danish defence, completing all his dribbles successfully. Only Ghana's Mohammed Kudus completed more in the opening round of matches.

1hr 40 mins to kickoff: The Socceroos are on their way to the Al Janoub Stadium, where they also faced France in their opening match. 

2hrs to kickoff: Tunisia put in a huge shift in their group opener to restrict Denmark to only a point. None more so than midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who ran more than 13km in the match. Only Germany's Joshua Kimmich covered more ground in the opening round of matches.

3hrs to kickoff: The hype is building in Australia for this one...

3hrs 30mins from kickoff: One of the great stories of Australian football is the rise of Garang Kuol, the refugee who fled South Sudan and came through the ranks in Australia, with less than a year separating his senior debut and international debut.

Jetting off to Premier League club Newcastle United in January, this is his story.

4hrs from kickoff: Whilst Australians will be out in force supporting their boys at home, they will be outnumbered at the Al Janoub Stadium by masses of Tunisia fans. Qatar has a high expat population of Tunisians, and many have made the trip, meaning that come kickoff we will see swathes of red all around the stadium.

4hrs 30 mins to kickoff: Australia, also known as the Socceroos, won't be short of support for this one back home; with the match taking place at the primetime of Saturday 9:00 p.m. AEDT, pubs, bars and clubs will be packed full of fans decked out in Green and Gold willing their boys on to victory.

5 hrs from kickoff: Australia's future at this World Cup could come down to today. After that opening 4-1 loss to France, and with Denmark to come on matchday three, they need a win against Tunisia — and a good win, at that.

Tunisia vs Australia lineups, team news

Neither side picked up any injuries in their opening World Cup games. 

The Socceroos make just one change as coach Graham Arnold largely keeps faith with the side beaten 4-1 in their opening match against France.

Nathaniel Atkinson, who struggled against France, is out injured, with Fran Karacic coming in to replace him on the right side of defence.

But there is still no place for No. 10 Ajdin Hrustic, who sat out the France game due to a minor injury. It looks like Arnold will retain a 4-5-1 formation, although that could revert to a 4-3-3 as they chase goals in this game. 

Tunisia, meanwhile, also make just the one change after their opening draw with Denmark. Naim Sliti takes over from Anis Ben Slimane as one of two players - along with captain Youssef Msakni - providing support up top for striker Issam Jebali.  

Star player Wahbi Khazri, who wasn't used against Denmark, is on the bench today as is Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. 

Tunisia confirmed starting 11

Tunisia confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left):  16. Dahmen (GK) — 6. Bronn, 4. Meriah, 3. Talbi — 20. Drager, 17. Skhiri, 14. Laidouni, 24. Abdi — 23. Sliti, 7. Msakni — 9. Jebali

  • Injuries: None
  • Suspensions: None

Australia confirmed starting 11

Australia confirmed lineup (4-1-4-1), right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 5. Karacic, 19. Souttar, 4. Rowles, 16. Behich — 13. Mooy — 23. Goodwin, 22. Irvine, 14. McGree, 7. Leckie — 15. Duke

  • Injuries: Atkinson
  • Suspensions: None

Tunisia vs. Australia live stream, TV channel

The match will start at 1 p.m. local time and take place at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, which opened in 2019 and has a capacity of 40,000.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Saturday, Nov. 26 05:00 ET FS1, Telemundo fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Saturday, Nov. 26 05:00 ET TSN, CTV, RDS (French) TSN site/app, CTV site/app,
RDS app
UK Saturday, Nov. 26 10:00 GMT BBC One BBC iPlayer
Australia Saturday, Nov. 26 21:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Saturday, Nov. 26 15:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Saturday, Nov. 26 18:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Saturday, Nov. 26 18:00 MYT Astro Astro GO
Singapore Saturday, Nov. 26 18:00 SGT StarHub (Ch. 251/252), Singtel TV MeWatch, Singtel TV GO,
CAST, StarHub TV+
New Zealand Saturday, Nov. 26 23:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

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Bryn Palmer

Bryn Palmer Photo

Bryn is an experienced digital journalist after many years working on the BBC Sport website in a variety of editorial roles, specialising in live coverage of major events across a range of sports including football, rugby and Olympic Games.