Nishan Velupillay’s Dream Debut Propels Socceroos to Victory Over China

As far as first appearances go, Nishan Velupillay’s debut for the Subway Socceroos couldn’t have been more spectacular. The 23-year-old capped off his international introduction with a goal, helping Australia secure a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over China in Thursday night’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifier at Adelaide Oval.

The Melbourne Victory star was a surprise inclusion in Tony Popovic’s first squad, but his impact off the bench proved decisive. Coming on late in the game, Velupillay scored in the second minute of stoppage time, sealing the win after goals from Lewis Miller and Craig Goodwin overturned China’s early lead through Xie Wenneng.

Velupillay’s emphatic strike not only marked a fairytale debut, but also lifted the Socceroos to their first win in Round 3 of World Cup qualifying. The victory, witnessed by a record crowd in Adelaide, comes as a much-needed boost after Australia had only managed one point from their first two fixtures.

Reflecting on his momentous debut, Velupillay told Football Australia, “It means a lot. Everything happened so fast, but I’m thrilled with how it went.”

“I was appealing for a penalty for Aido [Aiden O’Neill], and then the ball fell to me. I thought, ‘Alright, have a swing at it and see what happens.’ Luckily, it went in, and it felt amazing to have all the boys around me to celebrate. Most importantly, we got the win.”

Velupillay has been in fine form leading up to this qualifier, having scored five goals for Melbourne Victory en route to the 2024 Australia Cup final. “The team has made me feel so welcome,” he said. “We’re adapting to a new style under the coach, but everyone’s getting on board really well.”

“I’m incredibly proud to represent Australia. It’s a special moment, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Velupillay wasn’t the only standout from Victory on the night. Fellow teammate Jason Geria also impressed, earning his second Socceroos cap and first since 2016, after replacing Thomas Deng at halftime.

For Geria, it was a long-awaited return to the national team. “This is something I’ve wanted for a long time,” the 31-year-old said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since my first cap. Tonight felt like another debut.”

“It’s an honour to wear the Socceroos jersey, and I’ll cherish this moment. But you have to earn every cap, and I’m ready to work hard for the next one.”

New head coach Tony Popovic, who worked with both Velupillay and Geria during his time at Melbourne Victory, praised their contributions. “Both players had an impact, which is what we needed at that moment,” Popovic said in his post-match press conference.

“I had no hesitation in bringing them on. Jason looked confident and solid at the back, and for Nish, it’s a dream debut—coming on and scoring in a World Cup qualifier. He’ll remember that goal for years to come, and I hope it’s the first of many for him.”

The victory propels Australia to second place in the standings, trailing Japan by five points ahead of Tuesday’s crucial clash in Saitama.