Australia qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after battling to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to claim second place in Group D.

The Socceroos, who defeated Türkiye in their opening match before losing to the United States, were never seriously threatened on their way to securing a point to reach the last 32 at the Levi's Stadium in northern California.

It marks only the third time that Australia have advanced beyond the group stage in seven appearances at the World Cup.

The draw also left Paraguay firmly on course for the knockout rounds as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the group stage.

The US had already secured top spot in Group D before losing 3-2 against Türkiye.

The tournament co-hosts arrived in Los Angeles seeking to extend a perfect start with a third win, but with more than an eye on next Wednesday's last-32 meeting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

For Türkiye, already eliminated and without even a goal after disastrous losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only objective was to restore some pride.

For the third game running the US got off to a dream start. One of nine changes, backup centre-half Auston Trusty, was unmarked at the far post from a US corner, given time to cushion the ball with his left foot then blast it home.

But Türkiye did not surrender. Having not scored in 62 efforts across their first two games, it was 63rd time lucky for the Turks, and their star man Arda Guler.

The Real Madrid forward duped Mark McKenzie with a clever dummy, allowing the ball to run down the right flank to Baris Alper Yilmaz.

Yilmaz crossed it back into Guler, who smashed it past Matt Turner to equalise in the 10th minute.

In the 31st minute the US found themselves behind for the first time this World Cup.

Guler spotted Eren Elmali's overlapping run, feeding it to the wing-back who cut the ball back from the left byline to Yilmaz, who steered it beyond the keeper.

The half-time break proved the perfect tonic for the US. In the 49th minute they were back level, Sebastian Berhalter smashing his shot low into the bottom corner.

The crowd erupted again just before the hour mark as coach Mauricio Pochettino sent on Christian Pulisic, undoubtedly US soccer's biggest star. Nicknamed "Captain America", Pulisic earned his own round of "USA" chants, having not appeared since aggravating an injury in the first half of the opening win against Paraguay two weeks ago.

But deep into stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan spoiled the US party, slamming the ball home from close range. (AFP)


Edited by Edmond Fong