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Before he became an instant national hero, Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach had a perfect view of Nestory Irankunda’s opening goal during the 2-0 win against Turkey in Vancouver.

“We know one of our threats is our pace up front,” he said. “I just saw an opportunity to get it out wide, and then within two or three passes, Nes was in the 18-yard box and having a crack on goal. And then it was absolute limbs, wasn’t it?”

The goal triggered a spectacular outpouring of emotion among the Socceroos players, who crowded Irankunda and hindered his goal celebration. The 10,000-strong contingent of Australian fans in Vancouver didn’t appear to mind.

“Seeing the whole crowd jump up in yellow and green, everyone just went crazy,” Beach said. “I went crazy with the crowd behind, so it was an unbelievable moment, and something that we’ll remember for sure.”

Irankunda said Beach kept Australia in the game. “He’s been training extra hard and I know a lot of people weren’t expecting him to start,” the forward said. “He came out today, and he’s shown the world what he can do. He made a lot of important saves, and if it wasn’t for him, the score could have been different. But he saved us.”

Irankunda’s own contribution was almost as important. His goal changed the complexion of the match, after the Socceroos struggled to get into the contest before the first drinks break.

The goal was a breathtaking display of counterattacking football, after he was played in behind by Paul Okon-Engstler. “My body just started doing what it does. I didn’t control anything, it just happened,” Irankunda said.

“After I scored, it was crazy. I just saw Mo [Touré] to my right, I was telling him to relax so I could do my celebration, but he was super excited as well. And at the end of the day, it was a good goal, in my opinion, and I had to dedicate the celebrations to Tim Cahill.”

Irankunda boxed the corner flag, borrowing the trademark of Australia’s greatest men’s goalscorer. Twenty years ago this week, Cahill scored two of his most famous goals against Japan at the World Cup in Germany.

“Timmy Cahill is my biggest inspiration in Australian football, and I look up to him and I want to be like him one day,” Irankunda said. “And you know, I’m really, really, really proud of myself to get the goal.”

Beach said he found out he would start in goal instead of captain Maty Ryan only two days ago. “The boss and our keeper coach pulled me aside and told me that I’d be playing, that I have been performing well, and they have confidence in me, and they gave me all the confidence I needed to get out there and do my job.”

He produced a string of saves, including one in the first half from a Abdulkerim Bardakci long shot that he tipped on to the post. “I remember the ball was coming in quickly,” he said. “One of their players hit a snap shot in between two of the boys, and I remember just getting down low to my right.”

The save was the best of a half dozen stops that prevented Turkey from first equalising, and then in the dying stages from mounting a comeback. “It was amazing. This is a dream come true,” Beach said.

“This is all you think about as a kid. This is the pinnacle, to play for your country on the world stage. And to get a result in the first game and against a really good opposition, it’s just one of the best nights.”

Coach Tony Popovic said the victory made him proud. “As head coach, to experience this, put a smile on these people’s faces that have travelled so far to support us, and I’m just happy for a wonderful young group of men.”