Star Metro - Australia head to World Cup on a high after crushing Curacao 5-1

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Australia head to World Cup on a high after crushing Curacao 5-1

SPORTS 31.03.2026

Australia head to World Cup on a high after crushing Curacao 5-1 / Photo: WILLIAM WEST - AFP

Watford striker Nestory Irankunda bagged a brace as Australia hammered fellow World Cup qualifier Curacao 5-1 Tuesday in Melbourne, ensuring they head to North America on a high.

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It was the Socceroos final home game before the global showpiece in June-July, building on a 1-0 win against Cameroon last week.

Curacao have now crashed to consecutive defeats after losing 2-0 to China, with new Dutch coach Fred Rutten facing a formidable task at the Caribbean island nation's maiden World Cup.

"A wonderful send off. We wanted to win this game and go off on a high note, and scoring five is a nice bonus," said Australia coach Tony Popovic.

"We considered a soft goal ... things to work on, but there was a great reaction after that."

Australia are in World Cup Group D with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and either Kosovo or Turkey. Curacao are in a challenging Group E with Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

The Socceroos started slowly but got the breakthrough on 23 minutes after a loose pass from Curacao captain Leandro Bacuna.

It went to Kai Trewin who via Deni Juric found Awer Mabil with the Spain-based striker chipping over the goalkeeper.

Curacao, the smallest nation ever to make a World Cup, were fortunate to reach half-time only 1-0 behind, but struck back soon after the restart.

Substitute Arjany Martha slotted the ball through goalkeeper Mat Ryan's legs, only for Australia to respond emphatically.

They collected two goals in four minutes, the first a powerful header by Parma defender Alessandro Circati then a curling shot from dynamic Feyenoord star Jordan Bos.

Irankunda added a fourth with 10 minutes left, doing a backflip in celebration, and put another past the goalkeeper soon after as Curacao went to sleep.

Cameroon beat China 2-0 in an earlier match in Melbourne despite having coach David Pagou sent off.

They struck early with Karl Etta Eyong opening their account in the third minute and Saidou Alioum doubling it six minutes later.

There was drama in the second-half when coach David Pagou angrily protested a foul on Mael Fernandez Monyebe.

He was yellow-carded but kept up his rant and was rewarded with a red.

G.Boudreau--SMC