AL WAKRAH, Qatar — In what will go down as an all-time famous result for Australia, the Socceroos upset Denmark, 1-0, on a goal from Mathew Leckie to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006. It marks the first time Australia has ever won two games at a single World Cup after winning just once over the last three tournaments combined.
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For Denmark, the loss and elimination is a massive failure after coming into the tournament with high expectations considering its recent success at the Euros and relative lack of quality — at least on paper — of the teams it had to finish above: Australia and Tunisia.
Rapid Reaction
1. Australia’s tactics pay off
From the opening kickoff, it was clear the Socceroos were going to sit back and play on the counter. It made sense, especially when conventional logic said they would likely only need a draw to advance from the group. It turned out, though, that a win was necessary as Tunisia pulled off a shocker, beating France to land on four points and would have gone through on goal differential had Australia drew with Denmark.
Collectively, Australia defended extremely well. Though Denmark amassed 13 shots, they added up to just 0.63 xG and never really truly threatened Mathew Ryan‘s goal.
But that wouldn’t have been enough had it not been for one of the tournament’s great individual moments of brilliance from Melbourne City’s Mathew Leckie. His game-winning goal — which may go down as the biggest in Australian history — came on a run that started in Australia’s defensive half. He received the ball just as he entered the attacking third, swerved by Atalanta defender Joakim Maehle and slotted a on the ground into the far corner. It wasn’t the first time Australia had threatened on the counter and from that point forward, it effectively closed up shop.
