Socceroos smash Lebanon as Goodwin stars, and Yengi, Iredale score first international goals

Strikers Kusini Yengi and John Iredale each scored their first goal for Australia while Craig Goodwin starred as the Socceroos sealed their berth in the next round of AFC World Cup qualifiers.

Kusini Yengi scored his first international goal for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Strikers Kusini Yengi and John Iredale each scored their first goal for Australia as the Socceroos sealed their berth in the next round of AFC World Cup qualifiers with a 5-0 thrashing of Lebanon in Canberra.

The impressive Craig Goodwin also netted a brace as the Socceroos ran riot in the second-half in front of an all-time record crowd for a football match at GIO Stadium on 25,023.

Regardless of Australia’s result in June’s qualifiers against Palestine and Bangladesh, the Socceroos can’t miss out on a spot in the third round of qualifiers, having already secured 12 points from four second-round Group I wins.

EVERY PLAYER RATED: HOW THE SOCCEROOS FARED

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was happy with his side’s improved performance following a patchy display in last week’s 2-0 win over Lebanon.

“The first game we didn’t penetrate enough and there was too ,uch standing still,” Arnold told Network 10.

“We got a chance to work on that on Sunday when we got here (Canberra). We identified that, and the boys took that information and they did well tonight.”

However, Australia’s latest win was marred by an ankle injury suffered by playmaker Ajdin Hrustic.

Kusini Yengi celebrates scoring his first international goal. Picture: Getty Images

Having only just returned to the Socceroos squad, Hrustic was in tears as he left the field after falling victim to a shocking tackle from Lebanese midfielder Ali Tneich.

While Tneich was shown a yellow card for the challenge, he was perhaps lucky to stay on the field after thrusting the studs from his boot into the inside of Hrustic’s ankle.

It was the low point of an otherwise excellent second-half for the Socceroos, who scored four times after half-time.

Earlier, the Socceroos took the lead in the second minute, with the returning Goodwin the provider with a cross turned home the near post by Yengi, who scored his maiden goal in his sixth appearance for the national team.

The Socceroos should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute after the ball fell invitingly in Lebanon’s penalty area for unmarked midfielder Connor Metcalfe.

However, Metcalfe was tentative with a shot that was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Matar.

Lebanon’s Walid Shour reacts after an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match against the Socceroos. Picture: Getty Images

The Socceroos fluffed another great chance in the 42nd minute.

Goodwin delivered an exquisite cross with the outside of his left foot directly into the path of the unmarked Harry Souttar, who seemed certain to score his 12th goal for Australia.

However, perhaps thinking it was too easy, Souttar failed to make clean contact with his header, with the ball hitting the post.

But after half-time the Socceroos were far more clinical.

They doubled their lead in the 47th minute via an own goal from Bassel Jradi.

That started a procession, with Goodwin scoring in the 48th and 81st minutes, while substitute Iredale netted his first Socceroos goal in the 68th minute.

Tug-of-war over

Any hopes Lebanon had of luring Patrick Yazbek away from Australia ended when the former Sydney FC midfielder made his Socceroos debut as a second-half substitute.

Born in Sydney but of Lebanese heritage, Yazbek had been chased by the Cedars, whose coach Miodrag Radulovic questioned pre-match why he would want to sit on the bench for Australia when he could be a star for Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Khalil Khamis and Patrick Yazbek, who could have represented the Cedars but is now locked with Australia. Picture: Getty Images

However, the debate is now over, with Yazbek having become Socceroo No.641.

And he wasn’t the only debutant in Canberra, with fellow midfielder Josh Nisbet entering the contest soon after to become the 642nd player to represent the Socceroos.

Sydney-born Jackson Khoury also came off the bench to make his debut for Lebanon

Reshuffled Socceroos

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold made four changes – two enforced – to the team that started in last Thursday’s 2-0 win over the Cedars.

The injured Riley McGree and the suspended Keanu Baccus were replaced by the fit-again Goodwin and playmaker Hrustic.

Striker Mitch Duke was recalled at the expense of Adam Taggart, while Gethin Jones came in for right-back Nathaniel Atkinson.

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Originally published as Socceroos smash Lebanon as Goodwin stars, and Yengi, Iredale score first international goals