Australia joined France in the Round of 16, defeating Denmark 1-0 in their final Group D fixture of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, on Wednesday. With the score level at 0-0 at half-time, Mathew Leckie scored a stunning solo goal in the 60th-minute to hand Australia the crucial win. It looked like Tunisia enter the Round of 16 after having grabbed a goal via Wahbi Khazri in the 58th-minute, but Leckie's goal settled the Aussie nerves. Tunisia ended up winning 1-0 at the Education City Stadium.
It is Australia's first time in the knockout stage since 2006, the only other time they advanced out of the group stage.
Leckie took a pass just around the center circle and moved in and around a Danish defender, eventually lacing a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel diving to his left.
Australia finished with six points in Group D.
The World Cup proved to be a major disappointment for Denmark after reaching the semifinals in the 2020 European Championship. They slogged through a 0-0 draw in their opening match with Tunisia and then recovered in a 2-1 loss against France.