The Socceroos have done it.
Australia have qualified for a fifth World Cup in a row after the heroism of Andrew Redmayne’s penalty shootout marked Peru’s victory over Qatar.
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After 1,008 World Cup qualifiers and in the year of the centenary of the Socceroos, Australia has qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™.
It was a tense affair that offered little in the space of clear opportunities at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha.
After a 0-0 draw, it took a penalty shoot-out to split the two sides, and although Martin Boyle missed the first penalty, Redmayne rose to seal the Socceroos’ place in Group D alongside France, Denmark and Tunisia in this year’s test. FIFA World Cup.
It was a frantic start to the match with a couple of shots on goal from both sides.
For the Socceroos, Mitch Duke threw a long-range ball from the near post after receiving a fortuitous rebound from a diagonal pass from Baily Wright, while Peru shot to the right and hit a cross to Gianluca. Lapadula, who turned his head high and deflected.
Australia showed great energy in the first ten minutes by doubling the Peruvian players when they went out of possession and quickly shutting down the South Americans.
However, Nathaniel Atkinson was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent’s quick free kick after 80 minutes.
Moments later, Martin Boyle showed fantastic individual brilliance by jumping two Peruvian defenders and firing a cross through the six-yard area that narrowly dodged Duke’s head.
Peru worked hard in the game and threatened more regularly as the first half ended, but the Socceroos were able to hold out and avoid any attack by the reds to keep the score level.
Peru started the second half with the forward foot with Australia summoned to two consecutive corners, but the Socceroos continued to create more opportunities than their counterparts.
With 52 minutes played, Aaron Mooy nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar.
With 30 minutes left, Peru replaced Edison Flores with André Carrillo as he tried to find his equipment. Australia did well to drown them as they tried to move forward, especially through the tough run and clashes of Mooy and Jackson Irvine.
Moments later, Australia made their own substitution when Graham Arnold replaced Duke with Awer Mabil. Mathew Leckie has regained his place at the front, as he did in the United Arab Emirates party.
Both teams looked tired when the second half ended with no clear chances.
With ten minutes to go, Boyle threw a deep pass, but was quickly packed by Peru’s defenders. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Ajdin Hrustic lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented.
Shortly afterwards, the Socceroos created one of their best chances of the entire game. With 30 minutes played, a phenomenal play on the left side freed Aziz Behich, of FC, to dash through and score another goal for the visitors.
Behich shoots just wide.
Australia came close to extending their lead as Hrustic delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 80 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting.
Hrustic shoots.
With half a minute to go, Arnold replaced Leckie with Jamie Maclaren, as he opted for a full striker to close out the game.
There was a late penalty kick when Irvine’s shot went wide of the post.
The Socceroos finished the second half with more momentum than at the end of the first and created more chances in the 90th minute, while Peru had no ideas as they struggled to break Australia’s defense.
To start the first period of extra time, Arnold replaced the admonished Atkinson with Fran Karacic on the right wing.
The clear openings were few and far between, but Peru made the first shot on goal thanks to Flores, who shot into the goal from the edge of the area, but came directly to Mat Ryan.
The second half of extra time began with a lot of chances for Peru, including their best chance of the game, which came through Flores when he climbed higher to head home after beating Behich in the back stick.
With minutes left and a penalty kick in mind, Arnold replaced Behich with Craig Goodwin and Ryan with Redmayne in goal.
The match ended 0-0 and it took a penalty shootout to split the two sides and decide who would enter Group D in the Qatar World Cup final.
Boyle rose to make the first penalty and Pedro Gallese stopped him.
Gianluca Lapadula then put Peru ahead in the penalty shootout as he threw the ball past Redmayne.
Mooy then crashed the ball into the top corner to equalize in the penalty shootout, but Peru restored their lead thanks to Alexander Callens.
Goodwin then threw the ball to the roof of the net to make it 2-2. Then Luis Advincula’s effort fell to the post and each missed a penalty.
Then, Hrustic gave Australia a 3-2 lead, with a wrong foot to the goalkeeper with a clever shot from the right, but Peru restored parity thanks to Renato Tapia.
Maclaren sent Gallese the wrong way and placed the ball in the lower left corner while Flores scored his penalty to establish a clash between Alex Valera and Redmayne.
And Redmayne, the substitute goalkeeper in only his third appearance from his home country, was the savior.
The players and Arnold burst into tears and Australia has reached its fifth consecutive World Cup.