[p]The Tanzania-born 20-year-old showed footwork the "King of Pop" would have been proud of as he dribbled past defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gaari-jurien/SMJcD0at/"]Jurien Gaari[/a] and nutmegged goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/room-eloy/QkUYeBt5/"]Eloy Room[/a] for his first goal in the 80th minute at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.[/p][p]After sticking the landing on a gymnastic back-flip, he put on a sequined glove thrown to him by an on-field photographer and danced a jig with Jackson's trademark crotch-grab.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irankunda-nestor/OdWRR5EU/"]Irankunda[/a] said the photographer was a friend who had given him the celebration idea in a chat on Instagram.[/p][p]"[b]He knows I'm a huge fan of Michael Jackson and his music, and it was just great to bring it out and show people,[/b]" Irankunda told reporters, naming "Smooth Criminal" as his favourite Jackson song.[/p][embed guid="dfdf2ee6-3857-49de-8cfd-01d8105048fc" url="https://x.com/neilsherwin/status/2038933498556543279" social-type="twitter" /][p]Irankunda followed up his first goal by sliding in his second less than four minutes later to cap the team's farewell to the home fans with a fifth goal before they head overseas to continue their World Cup build-up.[/p][p]Irankunda's promise has excited [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] since he became the country's second-youngest player to score an international goal in a World Cup qualifier against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/palestine/raIKZdDJ/"]Palestine[/a] two years ago.[/p][p]A high-profile signing with Bundesliga giants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] went nowhere, though, and he ended up loaned out to Swiss side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/grasshoppers/6oCa40nb/"]Grasshopper[/a] before joining English Championship (second-tier) club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/watford/UmMRoGzp/"]Watford[/a] last year.[/p][p]Tony Popovic overlooked him for selection in his first three international windows as Socceroos coach but Irankunda has made his mark since coming back into the fold and may be Australia's most dangerous forward at the World Cup.[/p][embed guid="1b56744b-07bd-4cdb-bb80-e85cc8bb5cde" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uenzBdF6og" social-type="youtube" /][p]Popovic said he was delighted to see Irankunda storming into the box to score his goals, having shown his marksmanship from long range previously.[/p][p]"[b]We want that to continue,[/b]" Popovic told reporters.[/p][p]"[b]He's a young man that's growing in maturity, not just on the field but I think off the field.[/b]"[/p][p]Popovic deployed Irankunda as a substitute in both the Socceroos' friendlies against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cameroon/zk1uVG2D/"]Cameroon[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/curacao/bLLGpOkQ/"]Curacao[/a] to try out different forward combinations.[/p][p]They struggled for cohesion in both matches but improved when Irankunda came off the bench in the second half.[/p][p]He will hope for a starting role at the World Cup for a team with much higher ambitions than their world ranking of 27.[/p][p]"[b]We want to be that group that goes all the way and potentially wins the World Cup,[/b]" Irankunda said.[/p][p]"[b]No-one has the belief in us so we have the belief in ourselves.[/b]"[/p][p]Australia play their opening World Cup match on June 13 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kosovo/v1DTPQwI/"]Kosovo[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a], who meet in a playoff later on Tuesday, and will also face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] and co-hosts U.S.[/p][embed guid="1d91a7ea-b463-42e9-a1b3-3239973243c6" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKdEQ_Vg2hA" social-type="youtube" /]
Why did Nestory Irankunda celebrate with a white glove against Curaçao?
Australia winger Nestory Irankunda stole the show with a dazzling double and a Michael Jackson-inspired celebration as the Socceroos warmed up for the World Cup with a 5-1 rout of tournament debutants Curacao on Tuesday.
Mentioned
Australia
· tag
Global
· tag
Soccer
· sport
World Cup
· tournament_template
FIFA Series
· tournament_template
Nestory Irankunda
· participant
Jurien Gaari
· participant
Eloy Room
· participant
Australia
· participant
Curacao
· participant
Palestine
· participant
Cameroon
· participant
Kosovo
· participant
Paraguay
· participant
Turkey
· participant
Bayern Munich
· participant
Grasshoppers
· participant
Watford
· participant
Netherlands
· tag
Related stories
⚽ Football
New
England midfielder Eze urges team to ignore 'people who aren't playing'
Joel Barnett at Boston Stadium
⚽ Football
New
'It happens': Bellingham says England will not stress over goalless Ghana draw
Joel Barnett at Boston Stadium
⚽ Football
New
How Croatia managed to find a way past Panama and keep their World Cup hopes alive
David Parkes at Toronto Stadium
⚽ Football
New
Munoz fires Colombia into round of 32 after narrow win over DR Congo
Matthew Rhodes
⚽ Football
New
Barbarez calls on Bosnia to attack in must-win Qatar clash
Reuters
⚽ Football
New
Zlatko Dalic claims Croatia must improve despite beating Panama at World Cup
Reuters