Group D : Australia Snatch Knockout Ticket

Mathew Leckie (60’) was the match winner as Australia snatched a one nil victory over Denmark last night to qualify for the round of 16 of the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Socceroos who had lost eight of their previous 11 World Cup matches against European opposition needed a win to guarantee their progress to the next round but Denmark too had ambitions to progress with a win. And it seemed the Danes will run out with a win as they started on the front foot looking to get that early goal. Cristian Eriksen pulled the strings in the midfield for Denmark but never really troubled the Australian back line.
Denmark’s sterile possession kept the Australian back line comfortable as the Socceroos looked to pounce on the counter but lacked the cutting edge to punish their opponents. The Australians did get their chance on the break when the broke forward in numbers before Leckie (60’) latched on to a through ball before winning a one-on-one battle with a Denmark defender and striking past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to give his side the lead. The Socceroos then parked the bus at the back and saw off an unlikely victory to progress to the knockout stages for the second time in their history. Australia have only ever made it to the knockout stages once before, back in 2006, so last night’s victory meant the world to them.&nbs...