{"id":482123,"date":"2026-06-08T10:39:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/482123\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T10:39:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T10:39:11","slug":"long-guy-yengi-hopes-to-build-on-debut-australia-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/482123\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Long guy’ Yengi hopes to build on debut Australia goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Livingston striker Tete Yengi has put scoring on his “dream” debut for World Cup-bound Australia<\/a> against Switzerland<\/a> down to being “a long guy”.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old had scored only twice in 23 games last season with a Livingston side rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership by the time he joined Machida Zelvia on loan in January.<\/p>\n

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Since then, he contributed six goals in 22 appearances as his new side finished third in Japan<\/a>‘s East Region – and reached the final of the Asian Champions League.<\/p>\n

It earned a late, first call-up to Tony Popovic’s Socceroos squad along with Sassuolo<\/a> winger Cristian Volpato<\/a> and the two new caps were paired with Nestory Irankunda<\/a> up front in Saturday’s 1-1 draw<\/a> in their final warm-up game before the finals.<\/p>\n

“It was a great ball from Cam Burgess and a great run by Connor [Metcalfe],” he said.<\/p>\n

“My first thought was get in the box. When he first kicked it, I thought it was a bit far and I thought ‘oh, no’, but then I’m a long guy, so I extended my leg and I got there thankfully, so I’m very happy.<\/p>\n

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“Amazing, you can only dream of moments like this. I’m just grateful for the opportunity. First game, first goal, you can’t start any better than that I guess and hopefully I can get more.”<\/p>\n

Yengi, who joined now relegated Livingston after leaving Ipswich Town in 2024, is hoping to continue the frontline combination when Australia face Turkey, Paraguay<\/a> and hosts United States in Group D.<\/p>\n

“Me and Nestory, we’re very good friends, so we want to play on the pitch together and Cristian too, coming in my first time playing with both of them,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I enjoyed it, though, and the more that I play with all the boys, the better the connection will be, but they’re top players for a reason, I am here for a reason, so when we get on the pitch, we have to show why we’re here with our nice link-up play and everything.<\/p>\n

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“I’m looking forward to playing more with them and hopefully we can do something special.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Aberdeen-born Leicester City centre-half Harry Souttar<\/a> started against Switzerland, with Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin<\/a> coming on as a late substitute.<\/p>\n

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