Pure ecstasy for St. Pauli professional Jackson Irvine (29) and the Australian national team: The Socceroos have qualified for the Winter World Cup in Qatar.
Pure ecstasy for St. Pauli pro Jackson Irvine (29, 2nd from right) and the Australian national team: The Socceroos have qualified for the Winter World Cup in Qatar. © KARIM JAAFAR / AFP
In the decisive play-off game, the Socceroos beat Peru 5-4 on penalties yesterday evening and thus booked the penultimate ticket for the tournament which begins on November 21st.
After 120 rather uneventful minutes, which the Kiezkicker experienced entirely on the pitch, Australian national coach Graham Arnold (58) had the decisive ace up his sleeve.
Shortly before the end of extra time, he brought on penalty specialist Andrew Redmayne (33) for first-choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (30) – and this decision paid off.
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After Martin Boyle (29) missed from the point for the Socceroos, Redmayne made the Peruvian shooters so nervous with his unconventional shimmying down the line that Luis Advincula (32) hit the post and he stopped Alex Valera (26)’s last attempt was finally able to parry.
After that there was no stopping Irvine and his team-mates, who will face Denmark, defending champions France and Tunisia in Group D at the World Cup.
The joy was also great in Hamburg: “Jaaaaaaaaaa!!! Jackson Irvine and the Socceroos bought their World Cup ticket on penalties against Peru,” the neighborhood club tweeted after the decisive penalty.