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Australian rollercoaster ride ... Aus 3-2 Bra & OFC to face 5th placed CONMEBOL
The rollercoaster ride that is Australian football had two quick movements in the last 24 hours following the result in the FIFA World Youth Championships against the fancied Brazil and the decision by FIFA to have Oceania champions and the fifth placed South American team playoff for a place in the FIFA World Cup in 2006.
The U/20 side in the UAE showed true class and showed Australia's future is in good hands overnight after defeating tornament favourites Brazil 3-2 in their final group game to go into the round of 16 as the top team in Group C. The victory started with a 31st minute goal for the Aussies, stunning Brazil in the process. Anthony Danze reacting in time to finish the job after the ball deflected off a defender. Five minutes later being stunned turned to being shocked for Brazil as Danze put the ball in the net once more. The score became 2-0 on 36 minutes when striker Alex Brosque held the ball up for Dustin Wells to have a shot. The ball hit the post and once more rebounded nicely for Danze to shoot into the top of the net.
Brazil went to the break dejected but obviously failed to notice Australia's attacking potential after half time in other matches as they became the third team to concede a goal within the first 15 minutes after half time. Spase Dilevski got his name on the board with a killer run and finish only two minutes after the break. The small number of Australian fans went balistic as the Oceania nation was now leading footballing greats Brazil by three goals to nil. After fighting hard to get back into the game it took Brazil until the 75th minute to draw one back. Juninho controlled a poor Australian clearence and slammed the ball home to make it 3-1. Five minutes from time Brazil scored again and put a slight scare through the Aussie camp. Dudu controlled once more and volleyed home from inside the area to make it 3-2.
Despite the seemingly endless attacks on Australia's goal, Brazil couldn't break through, giving Australia a famous victory. In the other group C match Canada beat Czech Republic 1-0 to put them in third place and their hopes of a round of 16 birth alive.
Previous results for Australia in the group included 1-1 Vs. Czech Republic (28 Nov) and a 2-1 defeat of Canada (1 Dec).
However the flip side of the coin shows a contrasting view from Oceania. FIFA have announced the OFC champion will face the fifth best CONMEBOL team. This is the same path as the last world cup, making the Oceania representatives chances slim.
This comes on the back of being promised an automatic spot in the world cup before having that ripped away from the confederation. The possibilities that followed, yet were unlikely, was a round robin tornament between the 4 countries in the half chacne positions or for OFC to be drawn against the AFC for logistical reasons. It wasn't to be however, Oceania stuck against the South American opponent yet again.
That said, Australia might well be in the right hands after the Youth side had their big win over the Brazillians. This decision may not be the death sentance that it may seem.
5 December, 2003 |
