Australia beats Qatar 3-0 as four Socceroos make their debuts
Australia beat Qatar 3-0 in Doha in its first friendly of the November international window, settling the result with three first-half goals. Riley McGree scored in the fifth minute, Tete Yengi in the 32nd and Nestory Irankunda in the 40th as the Socceroos controlled the game before half-time.
Four players made their senior international debuts after the break: Eli Adams, Samuel Klein, Kasey Bos and Diesel Herrington. The victory over the reigning Asian Cup champions combined an effective first-half press with opportunities for a new group of players.
McGree takes early chance
Coach Tony Popovic made one change from the side used against Brazil last month, bringing McGree into the starting eleven in place of Jackson Irvine, who is not in this window’s squad. McGree quickly rewarded the selection when a misplaced goalkeeper pass left him with an open net.
It was McGree’s second international goal. Australia kept threatening: Alessandro Circati forced a save after a counterattack, while McGree sent a volley over the bar. Qatar struggled to keep possession and did not produce a first-half shot.
Metcalfe helps create two more goals
The second goal followed another high interception. Connor Metcalfe cut out a clearance and found Tete Yengi in the penalty area; the forward placed his finish in the bottom corner. Yengi’s second international goal came in his sixth appearance for Australia.
Metcalfe was involved again before the break, winning the ball and finding Irankunda near the edge of the area. Irankunda struck firmly past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. The three-goal lead reflected Australia’s control of the opening 45 minutes.
Second-half changes bring four first appearances
Kusini Yengi replaced his brother Tete at half-time, returning to the national side for the first time since 2024. Adams and Klein entered in the 65th minute for McGree and Jacob Italiano, becoming Socceroos numbers 663 and 664.
Marcus Younis replaced Irankunda for his third appearance. Gianni Stensness returned for his first international since 2022, taking Circati’s place in defence, while Jason Geria came on for Paul Okon-Engstler. Popovic said the changes reduced some cohesion and fluency but gave the debutants a special moment.
Bos replaced Aziz Behich in the 77th minute to become Australia’s 665th player, wearing the number five shirt associated with his injured brother Jordy. Herrington followed in the 81st minute for his brother Lucas, becoming the fourth debutant of the night and Socceroo number 666.
Qatar fails to break through
Qatar’s first shot arrived in the 72nd minute, and Patrick Beach’s goal remained unbreached. Yusuf Abdurisag put the ball in the net late on, but the effort was disallowed for offside. Adams received a yellow card in the 84th minute; Qatar’s Assim Madibo had been booked in the 67th.
The result gives Australia its first win since beating Türkiye at the 2026 World Cup. Popovic praised the first-half ball-winning high up the field and the physical effort in warmer conditions for players arriving from Europe. Australia now turns to Jordan for the second friendly of the window.