Australia qualified for the World Cup in Qatar
This Monday the pass of the Australian team to the Qatar World Cup was completed by beating Peru in the penalty shootout in the playoff match held at the Al Rayyan stadium.
The 'Socceroos' completed their pass to the World Cup and will play in Group D against France, Denmark and Tunisia. Those led by Arnold had just beaten the United Arab Emirates 1-2 in the same stadium last Tuesday, June 7.
The game began with some initiatives from both teams, although the inaccuracies, especially on the part of the South Americans, was what characterized the match.
The first half was played with that dynamic. There was practically no shot into the area by any team. Some arrivals with some danger and coach Ricardo Gareca gave instructions to the Peruvian team to play below and stop trying so much above.
The second part would be more of the same. The first shot into the area would come at minute 80 by the Australians. Hrustic took a free kick with a direct shot on goal and Gallese saved without problems.
At 84', Australia would try again and this time with a shot from Behich that went very close to the post. Close to marking the first. However, three minutes later the 'socceroos' have the clearest of regulation time. A crawling cross shot from the front that Gallese stops below without problems.
The game would end in a goalless draw and they would go into overtime. Starting the first extra time, Peru would have a different attitude. Lapadula and Flores got together and the latter took a long shot at 98', but goalkeeper Ryan manages to stop it. This is how the first overtime ended.
Starting the second, at 106', Cueva entered the Aussie area from the left and took a powerful shot that ended up hitting the side of the net. Just a minute later, Flores manages to head a cross into the area that ends up hitting the right post of the goal defended by Ryan. Save Australia!
It should be noted that before finishing, Arnold makes a change of goalkeepers, Redmayne enters for Ryan. Thus the second extra time would end and the penalty shootout would begin. Australia would start hitting him and Peru defending.
The first shot was taken by Boyle, but Gallese saved by diving to the left. Lapadula scored the first for Peru. Mooy and Callens would score for their teams on the next spike from eleven steps.
Godwin would also score for the 'socceroos', but Advíncula finished off, hit the post and went. The score is equalized when two penalty charges were missing for both teams.
Hrustic manages to score and Tapia also for the 'blanquiroja'. In the last round to complete the five collections, MaClaren and Flores do their thing and due to the tied score, the 'sudden death' penalties would continue.
Mabil scores for those led by Arnold, but goalkeeper Redmayne saves Valera's penalty. In this way, the Australians seal their pass to the World Cup in Qatar, leaving Peru out of it.
Inaccuracies and nervousness dominated the game of the South Americans, who despite their poor game, fought until the end, but lost on penalties.