Auz beats Peru, punches ticket to Qatar
Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne saved the last penalty to clinch Australia a place at the World Cup in Qatar as his team edged out Peru 5-4 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw after extra time in an inter-continental play-off on Monday.
Redmayne danced across the goal-line and then dived to his right to stop the penalty from Alex Valera, handing Australia a deserved victory at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Redmayne had been brought on three minutes from the end for the shootout and became an instant hero with his antics on the line. They were enough for Luis Advincila to fire his effort against the post and Valera to have his shot saved as Australia qualified for a fifth successive World Cup and a sixth in total. Australia will be part of Group D with holder France, Denmark and Tunisia.
Australia’s Martin Boyle had missed the first penalty, but his team converted the next five to silence the thousands of Peru fans. A workmanlike Australia dominated the early exchanges, with winger Boyle twice cutting through the Peruvian defence to provide teasing crosses. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with limited efforts on goal until the 80th minute, when Australia suddenly had three good opportunities to win the match. Ajdin Hrustic’s tame free-kick was easily saved by Peru captain Pedro Gallese. Aziz Behich then broke through two tackles and found himself in front of goal, but narrowly missed as he tried to curl his shot into the net.
Later, a run down the left flank by Australia substitute Awer
Mabil saw him slip the ball into the path of Hrustic, whose strike did not have enough power. Nine minutes into extra time, Australia’s Mathew Ryan was finally tested by a stinging shot from Edison Flores, which the goalkeeper saved. Flores then headed against the post as Peru was unable to settle the result after two hours of play.
RESULT: Inter-continental play-offs: Australia 0 drew with Peru 0 (Australia won 5-4 on penalties)