Duke le dio el gol de la victoria a los Socceroos / Mitch Duke becomes Australia’s latest World Cup hero: His celebration and story explained

Doha.- Un balón peinado por Mitchell Duke sirvió para que Australia se recuperara de la goleada contra Francia, derribase el muro de Túnez y dé un paso de gigante para estar en los octavos de final del Mundial.

A la selección tunecina, después de su impresionante actuación defensiva ante Dinamarca, la sorprendió un solitario cabezazo de Duke, futbolista del Okayama japonés. Un tanto suficiente para que los australianos controlaran el marcador y expusieran la debilidad de una Túnez que, con su goleador Wahbi Khazri tocado, sufre mucho para ver puerta.

Se diluye de esta forma el sueño de los norteafricanos de estar por primera vez en unos octavos de final y se lo tendrán que jugar en la última jornada ante Francia. La mejor opción para los tunecinos es que los galos derroten esta tarde a Dinamarca, lo que les dejaría ya clasificados y sin nada que jugarse en la última ronda.

Australia, que venía de encajar un 4-1 en el que, aun así, no dejó mala imagen, se recuperó gracias a un detalle de brillantez de Duke, que llevaba sin ver puerta desde hace dos meses.

El delantero de 31 años de edad aprovechó un centro de Craig Goodwin para simplemente peinar la pelota. Esta venía con mucha fuerza, tras tocar en un defensa, por lo que el sutil roce de Duke fue suficiente para que esta se alejara de los guantes de Dahmen. El gol aterrizó en momentos de dominio ‘aussie’, pero con él se esfumó la presencia ofensiva de los de Graham Arnold, que comenzaron a sufrir ante una Túnez que tiraba más de garra que de otra cosa.

Australia, que nunca se ha caracterizado por su poderío en defensa, salvó los muebles primero gracias a un bloqueo de Souttar a disparo de Mohamed Drager a bocajarro y más tarde cuando Youssef Msakni desperdició una gran combinación por banda. La pelota llegó rasa y blanda al primer palo y Msakni la empaló lejos del palo izquierdo de Matt Ryan.

El exarquero de Valencia y Real Sociedad tuvo bastante trabajo en los minutos finales con intervenciones menores y demostrando seguridad en los disparos de los tunecinos, que salen de este encuentro con el punto conseguido ante Dinamarca, con las opciones de clasificarse intactas, pero con la preocupación de no haber anotado aún ni un gol.

Australia, segunda ya con tres puntos del Grupo D, mirará de reojo al duelo entre franceses y daneses, deseando un resultado favorable a los franceses que les acerque aún más a pasar a octavos a través del segundo puesto.

EFE

Mitch Duke becomes Australia’s latest World Cup hero: His celebration and story explained

Mitch Duke became the eighth Australian to score at a World Cup – and his celebration was special.

By Jake Rosengarten, Optus Sport Editor
26th Nov 2022, 11:11 AM

Tim Cahill. John Aloisi. Craig Moore. Harry Kewell. Brett Holman. Mile Jedinak. Craig Goodwin.

And now… Mitch Duke.

The 31-year-old became Australia’s eighth goal scorer at a World Cup on Saturday night AEDT, joining the honour roll with the winner in a 1-0 win over Tunisia that keeps the Socceroos alive heading into their final group game against Denmark on Thursday.

“No words, I’m going to start crying because it’s such a big moment,” Duke said after the match, which was Australia’s first win at a World Cup in 12 years.

“For me and my family, my supporters, it’s the best feeling in the world but I’m trying not to get too caught up in it because the job’s not done yet. We’ve got one more game to try and get out of the group.

Honestly, the best moment of my life to date in my football career. I’m just so happy and proud of the boys. People have sacrificed so much to be here – it’s just the best feeling in the world.
“I’ll go to war with these boys. A huge shift from these lads, a clean sheet, we fought until the end and that’s all you can ask. We showed that Aussie spirit and we got the result.”

“We’re confident. We’re trying not to get too caught up in the moment. We’ve got one more game to go and we’ll try to make some more history for Australia.”

It was fitting that Duke was the man to provide the decisive moment.

The forward has been among the most divisive figures in Aussie football throughout his career and is therefore the perfect symbol for Graham Arnold’s 2022 vintage of Socceroos, who have championed the ‘Aussie DNA’ and fighting spirit that comes with an underdog status.

Duke was exceptional on the night, not just scoring the goal, but providing the type of combative presence that was sorely needed, chasing lost causes and leading the press.

His celebration was special. In the two years he’s played in Japan for J2 side Fagiano Okayama, Duke has seen his wife and kids for a total of two months.

“For me and my family, my supporters, it’s the best feeling in the world but I’m trying not to get too caught up in it because the job’s not done yet. We’ve got one more game to try and get out of the group.

Honestly, the best moment of my life to date in my football career. I’m just so happy and proud of the boys. People have sacrificed so much to be here – it’s just the best feeling in the world.
“I’ll go to war with these boys. A huge shift from these lads, a clean sheet, we fought until the end and that’s all you can ask. We showed that Aussie spirit and we got the result.”

“We’re confident. We’re trying not to get too caught up in the moment. We’ve got one more game to go and we’ll try to make some more history for Australia.”

It was fitting that Duke was the man to provide the decisive moment.

The forward has been among the most divisive figures in Aussie football throughout his career and is therefore the perfect symbol for Graham Arnold’s 2022 vintage of Socceroos, who have championed the ‘Aussie DNA’ and fighting spirit that comes with an underdog status.

Duke was exceptional on the night, not just scoring the goal, but providing the type of combative presence that was sorely needed, chasing lost causes and leading the press.

His celebration was special. In the two years he’s played in Japan for J2 side Fagiano Okayama, Duke has seen his wife and kids for a total of two months.

“He holds a special place for me,” Duke said of Arnold.

“He gave me that opportunity to be a professional player. And ever since, I’ve been wanting to return that favour to him. I’m massively grateful.”

It’s safe to say that favour has now been repaid.

Since, Duke has won the A-League with the Mariners, moved abroad with Shimizu S-Pulse, captained the Western Sydney Wanderers, played in Saudi Arabia with Al-Taawoun and, of course, returned to Japan with Fagiano Okayama, where he is now.

He’s played 23 times for the Socceroos, scoring nine goals – and become an Olympian to boot.

Now, the kid from Liverpool who thought his dream may fade away, is the latest member of one of Australian football’s most exclusive club.

What a wonderful story.