Australia have qualified for their fourth successive World Cup, handing Honduras a 3-1 beating at ANZ Stadium in the second leg of their inter-confederation qualifying play-off.
After a nill-all draw in the first leg away from home, the Socceroos needed a win – or a scoreless draw and then a win in extra time or penalties – to advance to Russia.
In the end, they got the advantage and rammed it home in the second half after a scrappy first half from both sides.
Ange Postecoglou’s men looked extremely nervous during the first half. They attacked early, but needing to defend and not allow a goal against them as well, the raids on Honduran goal let up after the first ten minutes, the rest of the first half being a drab affair.
Both teams attacking raids were poor at best, neither looking likely of scoring. The visitors played better than they did in the first leg, but still never got close to putting Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan under any pressure.
On the other side of halftime, Australia came out of the gates with more positive intent, looking to score and take the game away from the Hondurans.
The opening goal ended up coming as an own goal from a Mile Jedinak free kick. Honduras were physical all game, committing a lot of fouls, and one on the edge of the box in the 52nd minute turned out to be one too many, Jedinak curling the free kick around the defensive wall.
It then deflected off Honduran captain Maynor Figueroa, past goalkeeper Donis Escober and into the bottom of the net.
It still wasn’t over with more than half an hour to go, but the Hondurans seemed to struggle pushing the ball forward and creating opportunities. They lacked execution and fatigue became an issue, the extra 24 hours spent in transit likely catching up with them.
The Socceroos captain Jedinak then put past another pair of penalties, the Honduran defence losing any sense of discipline, making silly decisions and allowing Australia to progress with a lot less nerves than otherwise might have been the case.
It’s been a topsy-turvy qualifying road for Australia, but they have made the World Cup after 22 matches. There are questions to be answered ahead of Russia, but for now, it’s time to celebrate the achievement of making a fourth straight World Cup.
The draw for the FIFA World Cup will be declared on December 1.
Final score
Australia 3
Honduras 1
Martyn
Guest
A Wall Street Journal article reported 132 minutes of “writhing time” in just 32 World Cup games. Of the 302 separate instances of players appearing to be very seriously hurt, 293 of them were up and playing within seconds. Just nine were actually injured.
KJ
Roar Rookie
Do you only have negatives? I assumed your prediction was that we'd be thrashed in all games of the Fed Cup, that we wouldn't make it through the qualifiers and that because we got a 0-0 outcome in Honduras is was a mountain too big to climb. Have any of your predictions come true?
Nick
Roar Guru
I hope Ange stays. He's only completed half the battle. Qualification is awesome, but it's time to finish what he started in 2014. Being the first Australian coach to win a world cup match should be the goal worth sticking around for.
Birdman
Guest
looks like Robbie Tarocash :)
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Well done boys!, very well played over the 2 legs.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Boom !
chris
Guest
Looks like the Honduran coach shown the door.
Kenny
Guest
The critics have every right to criticise there has been plenty to be critical of especially from the coaches perspective, the path to the World Cup has been one massive roller coaster of missed opportunities wrong formations games lost that we should have won and no sign of winning formula that works for this group of players .just remember we won last night but we didn't score from run of play we scored from two penalties and one free kick .not good for a team going to a World Cup .our problems are still there yes we made it and that should be celebrated.
chris
Guest
Was there last night and loved every minute. No other team can bring such joy (and pain!) as the Socceroos can. When you're playing in a game that the whole world competes in, you know you have achieved something when you qualify. This is what sport is all about.
me too
Guest
Well done lads. Very strong second half and won it well. As for Ange - he's moulded the team to play his way in the belief we needed to be able to match the better teams in controlling the game - surely it's been with world cup in mind from the outset. Can't see him giving up now - despite the many hiccups along the way, despite the many criticisms, we are there. The proof will be in the pudding - he won't leave the kitchen before we taste the fare?
TheVolley
Guest
We have missed the Jedi dearly. Adds so much our defence and provides so much leadership. If Ange stays on, he will persist with the 3 defender system. Let's hope the Jedi remains healthy for the WC. Well done Socceroos! And welcome back Jedi. The force was indeed with you in the 2 matches against Honduras.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The way Jedinak played tonight, reckon he could hold his own in the batting line up ?
Redondo
Guest
What a relief. At long last Nemesis you can say "I told you so". Aus were a class above Honduras. The traffic cone was superb for 180 minutes - and not just his defence, his passing was excellent as well. Just one side point - I was there and watched the kids play their half-time games. Some of those kids are excellent - their touch, dribbling, passing etc all great for ones so young. Very promising for 2030.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
I have also been guilty of criticising him, but his absence has made what he brings to the team very clear. Vital contribution over both legs.
anon
Roar Pro
Frankly, the best thing will be for Ange to leave and get an international coach in. Under Ange two bad losses and a courageous draw is the best we can hope for in Russia. Might as well roll the dice with someone new. All credit to Ange though. Asian Cup, got the Socceroos to a World Cup. Time for someone who doesn't treat the job like it's a nuisance.
jamesb
Guest
Anges achievements as coach. Two NSL titles with South Melbourne. Two A League championships with Brisbane Roar. Won the 2015 Asian Cup with Australia. Qualified Australia to world cup 2018. He may be stubborn and grumpy, but he does have a very good record as coach.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"What a captains knock by Jedinak !" "a captains knock"? What next, could he follow Elyse Perry and play in the upcoming Ashes series?
Nick Symonds
Guest
"but you know what we were clearly the better team over two legs." We were clearly the better team in a number of WCQ matches, like the match against Thailand in Melbourne. It's just the finishing that really needs work. Oh, and how to play a back three. But at least we can all breathe easy now. Until next year anyway. Not so sure FFA will be able to relax just yet...
Torchbearer
Guest
Was at the game- what a great atmosphere and a 77,000 sell out! Much better than the Syrian nail biter a few weeks ago.
Midfielder
Guest
Nem +999999999