The whistles were deafening, drowning out every skerrick of doubt this crowd belonged completely, unconditionally, to Tunisia. A red vortex, a black hole threatening to suck Australia into Group D oblivion. But the Socceroos defied gravity at Al Janoub Stadium, blocked out – or fed off – the horns and hissing and beating drums, to make this must-win match their own and take three points at a World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
The key statistic beforehand was that Tunisia have not won a single match from their past 30 after conceding first. And so it went that, after Mitchell Duke headed his country into the lead midway through the first half, the 1-0 lead was rendered unassailable.
