Hot prospect Irankunda strikes as Australia shock Turkey in World Cup win

Chances were few and far between early on, with the best opportunity falling to Arda Güler, who combined well with captain Orkun Kökçü only to fire over the crossbar. 

Ferdi Kadıoğlu's effort met a similar fate before Baris Yilmaz picked out Guler with a ball from the left, which was met with a first-time volley that Beach did well to hold onto.

Australia had offered very little, but they caught Turkey off guard against the run of play just before the half-hour mark.

Paul Okon-Engstler sent a long ball for Nestory Irankunda to chase, and the Watford forward displayed superb footwork to beat the Turkish defence and rifle a low shot past Ugurcan Cakır, becoming the Socceroos' youngest World Cup goalscorer in the process. 

Turkey's best response was a wild effort from Kokcu, shortly before Cakır repelled another Irankunda effort on the stroke of half-time.

Talismanic winger Kenan Yıldız was not deemed fit enough to start, but the Juventus man was introduced at half-time by Vincenzo Montella as the Crescent Stars looked to get back into their first World Cup finals match since finishing third in 2002.

Some early second-half pressure on the Australia goal saw a deflected effort from Ismail Yuksek wrong-foot Melbourne City stopper Beach, but it ultimately landed on the other side of the post. At the other end, Harry Souttar was left dangerously free at a corner, yet his resulting header was parried away by Çakır.

Tony Popovic's men were under the cosh but almost repeated the trick of the first half by scoring against the run of play as Jordan Bos's effort from a narrow angle whistled over the top.

At the other end, Beach was at it again, denying Zeki Celik from a narrow angle, which proved critical as his nation doubled their lead in the 75th minute through Connor Metcalfe, who strode forward and hammered a low, hard shot into the bottom corner from outside the area.

Beach must have felt like he had magnets in his gloves as everything Turkey threw at him stuck, and he held on to Kerem Akturkoglu's point-blank volley shortly after Metcalfe's strike, ultimately helping his side see out the win with a tournament-high eight saves.

Australia will now take this momentum into their clash with co-hosts USA in Seattle on Friday, while Turkey will aim to bounce back against Paraguay in Santa Clara later that evening.