Qatar 2022: Leckie’s Strike Enough To Seal Historic R16 Spot For Australia

Australia beat Denmark 1-0 to advance to the Round of 16 of the World Cup. The Socceroos did not need the result of Tunisia-France to influence theirs as they did a job, after Leckie found an opening courtesy a razor sharp counter.

On the side of the Danes, the disappointment is immense for a team that ended beaten semi-finalist of the last European championship.

To qualify for the round of 16, Denmark had to win against Australia on Wednesday in Qatar in the third match of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in group D.

The Danes started the encounter with a grip hold but failed to find the net against an excellent goalkeeper – Mathew Ryan, despite attempts by Jensen ( 11th) and Eriksen (29th) minutes.

But little by little, Australia managed to outsmart the Danish Dynamite, as evidence, zero-all tie at the break.

The Socceroos further succeeded not only to hold-up but take the advantage in the second half through Mathew Leckie, who side footed Andreas Christensen and Kasper Schmeichel to make it 1-0 at the hour mark, after a perfectly executed counter.

Without really sucking it in, the Danes tried to equalize until the final whistle but without managing to really worry Mathew Ryan.

Sixteen years later, Australia qualifiers for the round of 16. Not many people placed a bet on the Socceroos after the draw, which placed them in the group of France and Denmark, but they will be there for the knockout phase.

Denmark finished last in Group D behind France, Australia and Tunisia without any victory in three games in this 2022 World Cup. It is a huge disappointment for the Danes, who managed to reach the round of 16 in 2018 in Russia 4 years ago, before they lost to eventual finalists Croatia on penalties.