Surprise starter Patrick Beach propels Australia to stunning win over Turkey
Patrick Beach was phenomenal in just his third-ever national-team start
VANCOUVER – Australia head coach Tony Popovic revealed a surprise at goalkeeper just before the Socceroos’ World Cup opener against Turkey on Saturday.Patrick Beach, 22, was handed the start over Mathew Ryan, who has three World Cups under his belt.Beach rewarded his coach’s confidence, to say the least.
From an early save on a direct shot to two blocked free kicks, Beach made save after superb save. He had eight saves total, each more acrobatic than the last, as Australia stunned Turkey, 2-0.Beach, who plays for Melbourne City of the Australian A-League, had just two caps before Saturday, one being the Socceroos’ most recent match, a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.
Australia, playing in its sixth consecutive World Cup, faces the United States in Seattle on June 19. The teams are now tied atop Group D with three points.On Saturday, Turkey’s attack began early, but Beach stayed poised.
In the 55th minute, Turkey’s Arda Güler took a free kick and Beach got down low to his right for the save, his fourth of the evening. As the game went on, the Turkish attack kept coming. The Socceroos looked content to park the bus, and the Aussie goalkeeper gave them the support they needed.
Another youngster, 20-year-old winger Nestory Irankunda, scored the Socceroos’ first goal in the 27th minute. Showing off his elite speed, he blitzed between Turkish defenders to net his first ever World Cup goal, igniting the passionate Aussie crowd.Connor Metcalfe added Australia’s second goal in the 75th minute.
Amid an impressive showing from the Australian youth movement, no youngster impressed more than Beach. He was regarded as the Australian goalkeeper of the future but after Saturday's outstanding performance, he may just be the goalkeeper of the present.Jack Cooney and Carter Braun are students in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach has phenomenal showing vs Turkey
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