To revive World Cup hopes, brave Australia beats Tunisia.

To revive World Cup hopes, brave Australia beats Tunisia.

To revive World Cup hopes, brave Australia beats Tunisia.

With a tenacious 1-0 victory over Tunisia on Saturday, Australia restored their chances of making it to the round of 16 for just the third time in their history. With a deft header in the first half, Australia’s striker Mitch Duke scored the game’s lone goal, and the team then desperately hung on to quiet Tunisia’s boisterous supporters. After being soundly defeated 4-1 by the tournament’s defending champions France, Australia is in second place in Group D with three points from two games. The Socceroos’ final group game is against Denmark, who will play France later on Saturday. After that, the knockout round will begin.

The match was being shown on primetime Saturday night television in Australia and viewers saw their gritty side dominate the first 15 minutes, without mustering a shot. Tunisia had the first sniff of goal in the 19th minute but skipper Youssef Msakni was squeezed out, then defender Mohamed Drager blazed over.

In the 23rd minute Australia took the lead their possession deserved. Craig Goodwin, who scored the opener in the loss to France, crossed from the left and the ball ricocheted for Duke to glance his header back over his own shoulder and into the net.

The Japan-based centre-forward, 31, exchanged angry words with the Tunisian bench when he was bundled over on the half-hour mark. The skirmish ended in a shake of the hand with substitute Hannibal Mejbri, the Manchester United teenager.

Another English-based player, defender Harry Souttar of Stoke City, made a heroic last-ditch block from the dangerous Msakni as half-time approached. Tunisia’s fans had their heads in their hands in injury time when Msakni finally escaped Souttar, only to sidefoot wide from close range.

To revive World Cup hopes, brave Australia beats Tunisi

Australia got the lead that their possession deserved in the 23rd minute. Craig Goodwin, who scored the first goal in the defeat to France, crossed the ball from the left, and Duke’s header bounced back over his own shoulder and into the goal.

The match was being shown on primetime Saturday night television in Australia and viewers saw their gritty side dominate the first 15 minutes, without mustering a shot. Tunisia had the first sniff of goal in the 19th minute but skipper Youssef Msakni was squeezed out, then defender Mohamed Drager blazed over.

In the 23rd minute Australia took the lead their possession deserved. Craig Goodwin, who scored the opener in the loss to France, crossed from the left and the ball ricocheted for Duke to glance his header back over his own shoulder and into the net.

The Japan-based centre-forward, 31, exchanged angry words with the Tunisian bench when he was bundled over on the half-hour mark. The skirmish ended in a shake of the hand with substitute Hannibal Mejbri, the Manchester United teenager.

Another English-based player, defender Harry Souttar of Stoke City, made a heroic last-ditch block from the dangerous Msakni as half-time approached. Tunisia’s fans had their heads in their hands in injury time when Msakni finally escaped Souttar, only to sidefoot wide from close range.

Coach Jalel Kadri brought off Drager at the break and replaced him with a midfielder, Ferjani Sassi, and a match that had simmered up to that point threatened to boil over. Australia were playing on the break and were inches away from a second but Mathew Leckie could not connect on a low cross as he slid in front of goal.

Minutes later goalkeeper and skipper Mathew Ryan denied Msakni from close range and Australia just about held on under intense pressure to leave Tunisia’s World Cup campaign in deep trouble.

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The 31-year-old center striker, who plays in Japan, got into an argument with the Tunisian bench after being shoved over at the halfway point. The handshake marked the end of the altercation.