Australia Earns World Cup Spot with Revenge Against Peru

The World Cup Qualifiers are coming to a close and the groups are almost all set and ready for soccer’s most prestigious international tournament to start this November. Australia played Peru in Qatar for the second last spot in this year’s World Cup. Both teams took part in the 2018 tournament and they were in the same group. Peru defeated Australia 2-0 four years ago but only one of them will be able to participate in the tournament this time. 

The Australian and Peruvian teams walk out of the tunnel in Qatar.

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Australia lined up with a few big names in their lineup, including goalkeeper Mathew Ryan who plays for Real Sociedad, and Ajdin Hrustic who plays for the Europa League Champions Eintracht Frankfurt. Peru lined up with Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Boca Juniors teammates Carlos Zambrano and Luis Advíncula. 

Australia’s Aziz Behich fighting Peru’s Renato Tapia for the ball.

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Both teams approached the game with a cautious approach. The game started slow and the scoreline remained 0-0 at halftime. More chances appeared for Australia as Awer Mabil was able to make dangerous crosses, Aziz Behich had a very close attempt, and Hrustic’s shot almost got past Gallese for a goal in the last ten minutes of normal time. The game proceeded to extra time as both teams failed to score, and Peru got a good spell at the start of the second half of extra time. The closest chance of the whole game went to Edison Flores of Peru as his header hit the post in the 107th minute. After 120 minutes of game time, the teams managed only three shots on target and zero goals.

Ajdin Hrustic was disappointed after he failed to convert his chances.

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As the teams were not able to be separated after 90 minutes, the side that will advance to the world cup will be decided by a penalty shootout. Right before the final whistle was blown, Graham Arnold made two changes to his Australian side specifically for the penalty shootout, striker Craig Goodwin was brought on for Behich and Andrew Redmayne replaced Ryan in goal.

Mathew Ryan substituted off for Andrew Redmayne in the last minute of extra time.

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Australia started off the penalty shootout as Martin Boyle stepped up to take the penalty. Boyle aimed for the top left with a powerful shot, but Gallese was able to pull off an amazing save, lifting the pressure off his teammate’s shoulders. Gianluca Lapadula stepped up and gave Peru the lead. Aaron Mooy, Alexander Callens, and Goodwin all converted their penalties for a 2-2 scoreline. 

Redmayne saved Alex Valera’s decisive penalty to become Australia’s hero.

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There is a small incident during Goodwin’s buildup to take his penalty for Australia. Redmayne noticed notes on Gallese’s water bottle, so he allegedly picked up the water bottle and threw it behind the advertisement boards. Advíncula hit his penalty on the left post and it bounced out. Australia and Peru are on equal grounds again. Hrustic, Renato Tapia, Jamie Maclaren, and Flores all scored from the spot to make the scoreline 4-4 after five rounds of penalties, pushing the shootout into sudden death. Mabil stepped up for Australia and slotted the penalty home. Alex Valera stepped up for Peru to take the must-score penalty. Redmayne continued his “dancing” routine during the buildup to distract the penalty taker. Valera went for a low left shot and Redmayne dived left and pushed the ball away from the goal. Australia got their revenge on Peru four years later by eliminating them from the world cup. 

The Australian team celebrating their victory after a long and grueling qualifying journey.

Credit: Twitter @Socceroos

After a difficult qualifying campaign, the Socceroos finally got their reward. Their qualifying campaign started more than 1,000 days ago and a whole pandemic has happened since then. Australia had to play 16 out of their 20 qualifying games away from home due to the pandemic, but they still fought their way through to earn their ticket to Qatar. They will be placed in group D with defending champions France, Denmark, and Tunisia.