Australia concluded their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying second round campaign in dominant fashion, securing all available points with a resounding 5-0 victory over Palestine at the HBF Park in Perth on Tuesday.
Kusini Yengi opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a penalty, marking his third consecutive goal in as many qualifier matches. Adam Taggart then extended the lead with a goal in his hometown. Portsmouth striker Yengi added his second of the match before the half-time whistle, effectively sealing the match in Australia's favor.
In the second half, Graham Arnold’s men continued their relentless pursuit, with Martin Boyle scoring early to make it four, and Bayern Munich-bound Nestory Irankunda converting an 86th-minute penalty to notch his first international goal, as Australia finished their campaign without conceding a goal.
Arnold rotated his squad significantly, retaining only goalkeeper Joe Gauci, Jackson Irvine, and Yengi from the lineup that secured a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh on Thursday. Palestine’s head coach Makram Daboub also made seven changes, resting top scorer Oday Dabbagh and captain Mus'ab Al Battat.
The Socceroos' perfect start came as Aziz Behich was fouled by Yaser Hamed in the box, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Yengi confidently converted, giving Australia an early lead with just five minutes on the clock.
Palestine nearly equalized in the 16th minute when Omar Faraj launched a counterattack and crossed for Mohammed Rashid, with Alessandro Circati performing a quick block to deny the Bali United playmaker. However, Australia doubled their lead through a play initiated and completed by Taggart in the 26th minute. A deft pass down the right wing from Taggart to Boyle allowed the Hibernian striker to advance into the box and assist former Suwon Samsung Bluewings danger man Taggart, who scored his first international goal on home turf.
Australia added a third before the interval when Jackson Irvine’s incisive pass found Boyle in the box, who then set up Yengi for his second goal in the 41st minute.
Palestine almost conceded a fourth shortly after the break when Behich’s deflected cross narrowly missed the goal. However, the hosts soon found their fourth as Yengi’s pass broke through the defense, allowing Taggart to unselfishly assist Boyle for an easy finish in the 53rd minute.
Palestine came close to scoring in the 70th minute when Dabbagh reached the box and laid the ball back to Moustafa Zeidan, whose shot grazed over the goal following a slight deflection off Circati. In the 87th minute, a handball by Hamed led to Irankunda sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with his powerful penalty.
Australia ended their campaign with a perfect 18 points, while Palestine secured second place with eight points. Both Australia and Palestine are through to not only the third round of World Cup qualifiers, but also the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
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