New Zealand vs. Socceroos: Australia’s attacking young guns Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda make most of elevation to starting team

Toure netted a brace that included his first international goal in his fourth Socceroos appearance, while teenage sensation Irankunda also found the back of the net as Australia sealed the “Soccer Ashes” with a second victory over the All Whites in less than a week.

The pair had started on the bench in the Socceroos’ 1-0 win Canberra last Friday night, and both made an impact coming on.

Their reward was a start in game two of the series as part of six changes coach Tony Popovic made to his starting team.

Also brought in to play from the opening whistle were fullbacks Lewis Miller and Kye Rowles, and midfielders Aiden O’Neill and Max Balard, who scored last Friday on debut off the bench.

In somewhat of a surprise, uncapped attacker Adrian Segecic, who was an unused substitute last Friday, failed to even make the bench for Tuesday’s match.

Striker Noah Botic was brought into the match-day squad, but also remains without a cap after not being used by Popovic.

The Socceroos started the match with more attacking intent compared to last Friday, with Toure opening the scoring in the 35th minute after being fed by Connor Metcalfe.

Irankunda doubled Australia’s lead in the 54th minute, getting the better of Francis de Vries and Tyler Bindon before planting the ball into the corner of the net.

Chris Wood pulled one back for the Kiwis three minutes later, but Toure restored Australia’s two-goal advantage on the hour mark.

He was denied a hat-trick soon after by an off-side ruling, while Irankunda almost grabbed a double of his own with a stunning free-kick that smashed into the crossbar.

CAPTAIN CIRCATI

Emerging star Alessandro Circati, aged 21 years and 335 days, became the Socceroos’ youngest starting captain in an A international since September 1981 when Peter Raskopoulos wore the armband.

In the absence of regular skipper Mat Ryan and his usual deputy Jackson Irvine, Circati’s fellow defender Milos Degenek captained the team in the first game of the two-match series in Canberra last week,

However, for game two, coach Tony Popovic chose Circati, who plays his club football for Italian Serie A club Parma, to lead the team.

“It’s a fantastic honour,” said Popovic, who was Perth’s A-League coach when Circati was in the Glory’s youth team.

“He’s a player I admire in terms of what he’s doing so far. I knew him as a young kid in Perth, training with a first-team as a 15-16-year-old, just watching him grow and mature.

“He’s a player for the future, and I think he has those leadership skills, and tonight is a great moment for him and his family.

“I just want Ale to be himself.

Circati said it was a “great honour” to captain the Socceroos.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to do that at a young age,” he said.

“I’m ever so grateful to the boys and to the coach. I’m very excited.

As it happened …

IRANKUNDA IMPRESSES AGAIN

– Erin Smith

Hard to say what was more impressive was his acrobatic celebration or the goal – but either way 19-year-old Nestory Irankunda put the Socceroos ahead of New Zealand.

It is his second goal in seven appearances for the Socceroos. Soon followed by Mohamed Toure’s second, to help the Socceroos to a 3-1 lead across the ditch.

Toure almost turned his first national team goal into a hat-trick in Auckland before VAR declared third goal off-side.

The Socceroos had been under a bit of pressure in the second half with the Kiwis fired up.

But 10 minutes was all Irankunda needed – he danced through the New Zealand defence and from an almost impossible angle slotted the ball into the goal.

He celebrated with a cartwheel and impressive flip before turning to soak in the love from the crowd.

Australia’s 2-0 lead was short lived with English Premier League star Chris Wood finally finding a way through the safe hands of Paul Izzo.

TOURE BREAKS THROUGH AT NATIONAL LEVEL

– Erin Smith

At just 21-years-old and in just his fourth Socceroos appearance Mohamed Toure scored his first national team goal to open the scoring and put Australia ahead 1-0 against New Zealand.

Toure was given a short stint in the clash with New Zealand in Canberra on Friday night and his effort was rewarded with a start for tonight’s return leg. He soon had two, when in the second half, he put Australia back in control after tearing through the New Zealand defence, fooling the keeper and slotted the ball in like it was something he has done 1000 times before.

Coach Tony Popovic made six changes to the squad including starting attacking force Irankunda and Toure.

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While Irankunda had plenty to do, it was Toure who found the net first in the 35th.

He picked up a brilliant through ball in the midfield, muscled his way through two New Zealand defenders before banging it into the net, under pressure, with a clean first touch.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo has also been a very safe set of hands with an impressive save moments after the goal was scored keeping Australia in the lead.