Socceroos thrash Bangladesh 7-0 in first WC qualifier

The Socceroos have kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign in scintillating style, with Jamie Maclaren scoring a hat-trick in a 7-0 thumping of Bangladesh.

In Graham Arnold's record-breaking 59th 'A international' as head coach, Australia made light work of the world No.183 in front of 20,876 fans at AAMI Park.

Harry Souttar opened the scoring in just the fourth minute with Brandon Borrello adding a second in the 20th.

Mitch Duke earned a rapid-fire brace in the 37th and 40th minutes while Melbourne City striker Maclaren came off the bench to score in the 48th, 70th and 84th minutes.

Australia next head to Kuwait to play Palestine on Tuesday night.

Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

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With Martin Boyle (knee) sidelined, Arnold opted to start Craig Goodwin and Borrello on the wings, with Duke up top.

Australia had 29 shots to Bangladesh's one and earned their first goal after Craig Goodwin was cut down.

Goodwin took the free kick, curling a tantalising left-footed ball towards Souttar.

The 198cm defender was completely untroubled as he rose highest to head into the top corner, notching his ninth international goal.

For Australia's second, the brilliant Connor Metcalfe found Lewis Miller and burst forward to meet the full-back's clever dink.

Metcalfe rode a challenge then brilliantly squared it to Borrello to tap home.

Australia cracked Bangladesh's defence a third time when Metcalfe dinked the ball towards Duke, who flicked home a header.

Three minutes later, Borrello fizzed a fierce strike off the post but Duke buried the rebound.

The 4-0 half-time lead was the Socceroos' highest-scoring first half since putting five goals past Taiwan in December 2012.

Goodwin, Jackson Irvine and Duke made way for Aziz Behich, Massimo Luongo and Maclaren at half-time, with Jordan Bos pushed to the wing.

Minutes later, Bos teed up Maclaren to tap home Australia's fifth.

Maclaren appeared offside but there was no VAR to rule it out.

Australia added a sixth when Luongo was denied but Maclaren coolly buried the follow-up.

Striker Kusini Yengi debuted for Australia in the 72nd minute.

Maclaren completed his second international hat-trick when he turned home Miller's excellent cross.

Luongo had a poor penalty saved in the 90th minute after Aiden O'Neill was brought down, leaving the Socceroos to settle for seven goals.

The game was a 50-year celebration of the 1973 Socceroos, the first to qualify for a World Cup.

It was also 18 years to the day since Australia beat Uruguay on penalties to reach the 2006 tournament.