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Australia Qualifies!!!
Johnny Warren’s immortal words “I told you so” were never more prophetic last night as Australia lifted a 32 year curse to qualify for the World Cup in Germany. In a penalty shoot-out, John Aloisi sealed qualification as Australia won it 4-2 after drawing 1-1 in regulation and extra time.
The first leg between the two nations was held in Montevideo. Uruguay scored in the 36th minute through Dario Rodriguez’s diving header. A dubious foul down the touch line, outside the Australian penalty area gave Alvaro Recoba a free kick. The set-piece specialist sent the ball to the back post while the entire team, except Rodriguez, ran towards the near post, giving the defender plenty of space. Vince Grella saw the run late and couldn’t prevent his diving header from hitting the back of the Aussie net.
This effectively ended Australia’s attacking game as they had dominated the first 25 minutes of football. Uruguay went all out attack but the Aussie defence was much better drilled than in the Confederation Cup earlier this year. They held on for a tough 1-0 victory over the Socceroos.
The second leg saw Uruguay and Australia go all out attack, defying the ultra-defensive ploy many predicted the Uruguayans to take. Uruguay had the best of the chances with Recoba making a nuisance of himself. Things even started to tense up as players started letting their arms make more contact with players. Paolo Montero shoved his hand into Tim Cahill’s face after he challenged the keeper only for no response from the referee. Moments later Tony Popovic was booked for a high elbow into Recoba. Three minutes later, a tactical switch saw Popovic come off for Harry Kewell to come on.
It was here the Liverpool midfielder started showing why he’s held in such high regard. A few fantastic touches, including a back heel down the line to a team mate set up a passing play involving Kewell, Cahill and Mark Viduka, resulting in Kewell misfiring and the ball scuffed off his boot and straight to Marco Bresciano to fire into the top of the net on 35 minutes.
With the tie levelled, Australia went searching for another and looked by far the most confident in the match. Cahill, Kewell and brett Emerton all having decisive strikes hept out. Scott Chipperfield marshalled his wing strongly and provided width for the Aussies. Unfortunatly nothing more came of the second half and 1-0 was the result. Tied at 1-1, extra time was needed.
Uruguay found a few shots in extra time and could have sealed qualification when Gustavo Rodriguez headed over. With four minutes remaining, Richard Morales sent a shot agonisingly close, shooting across goal. However the inevitable was in sight and came about. A penalty shoot-out, the cruellest of fates.
First up was Harry Kewell who fired to the keepers right, scoring. Next up was Uruguay’s home leg hero, Dario Rodriguez. He fired to Mark Schwarzers left and the big Aussie keeper picked it, saving the shot to put Uruguay on the back foot from the start. Lucas Neill was next and it was a carbon copy of Kewell’s goal, scoring to the keepers right, sending him left. Gustavo Varela was next up for Uruguay and while Schwarzer picked the direction, the shot went under his arm and in. Defender Tony Vidmar put it to the keepers right once more to score and give Australia a 3-1 lead.
Fabian Estoyanoff stepped up for Uruguay and calmly slotted past Schwarzer to make it 3-2 in favour of Australia. Up stepped Viduka next and with the captain expected to score from the spot, the preassure told as he dragged the shot wide. Suddenly the game was back on an even keel. Marcelo Zalayeta stepped up but stuttered and suffered the same fate as teammate Dario Rodriguez went through earlier. His shot saved by the big mitt of Schwarzer.
With a goal securing qualification for Australia, John Aloisi had the weight of a nation on his shoulders. It didn’t show as he fired high into the top right corner of the net, left of the keeper, to send 83,000 fans into a crazed state. Aloisi tearing his shirt off to celebrate the goal with the fans. Uruguay stunned as they sat in the middle of the field in silence.
So Australia ends a 32 year exile from the world stage as they make only their second appearance in the world cup, fittingly in Germany, the location of their first world cup voyage. Australia’s favourite son, the late Johnny Warren would be looking down upon the nation laughing a little to himself. Surely he’s thinking now “let’s win the bloody thing.”
17 November, 2005 |
