Sport

Gallery | Turkiye worldie goal the highlight as Shepparton Nations Cup finals action kicks off

By Callum Farquhar

Jan 20, 2026

Turkiye's Sercan Kullukcuoglu scored a screamer against Italy. Photo by Megan Fisher

Turkiye may be decked out in a red kit, but its opponents are the ones being left red-faced in the Shepparton Nations Cup.

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The international representation football tournament is at its cut-throat best as the knockout stages begin this week, and it is Turkiye that is looming as the team to beat.

Turkiye defeated Australia comprehensively 5-0 on Monday night to book a semi-final ticket, but not before a do or die pool stage match against Italy determined which side advanced to the Australian fixture.

A pivotal clash for both sides, Turikye was ruthless in its game plan, with Erkan Bayrakli drawing first blood to take his side up 1-0.

Sercan Kullukcuoglu scored a screamer from outside the box, striking the football into the top right hand corner over an outstretched keeper’s glove, depicting all the luck was on the side of the men in red.

Italy would hit the scoreboard in the 90 minutes of play, but Turkiye would find the back of the net two further times before the full time siren, winning 4-1 in its final group stage match.

News photographer Megan Fisher bared witness to the Shepparton Nations Cup action on Sunday and captured Turkiye’s glory.