Teen sensation Nestory Irankunda has etched his name into the history books by becoming the second-youngest player to score for the Socceroos during Tuesday night’s 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Palestine. Irankunda’s second-half penalty marked his inaugural goal for the Socceroos in only his second appearance, with forward Kusini Yengi securing a brace and Adam Taggert and Martin Boyle also finding the net in an impressive display in Perth.
The win ensured Graham Arnold’s Socceroos completed the first phase of their World Cup qualifying campaign with an impeccable record of six wins from six games, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. Yengi kicked off the scoring for Australia with a fifth-minute penalty and extended the lead to 3-0 in the 41st minute with some dazzling footwork, while Taggart doubled the advantage in the 26th minute following a slick one-two with Boyle.
Yengi then turned provider with an exquisite through-ball that led to Boyle’s goal early in the second half. This set the stage for Irankunda, bound for Bayern Munich, to make history with his maiden goal for the Socceroos, converting a penalty in the 88th minute and celebrating with his trademark backflip.
Arnold commended Irankunda’s growth and development as a player over the past year, cautioning him that his move to Bayern Munich is just the beginning of his journey. The Socceroos coach expressed his excitement about the growing number of young players gaining experience in top leagues worldwide, aiming for even greater success in future World Cups.
Looking ahead, the Socceroos shift their focus to the next phase of World Cup qualifying, aiming to avoid a playoff scenario by dominating their qualifying group and securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
