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  • Writer's pictureSportFM

Socceroos qualify for World Cup



Some penalty shootout brilliance from substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne has helped Australia qualify for a fifth straight FIFA World Cup, qualifying for the tournament in Qatar later this year with a tense win over Peru in their intercontinental play-off.


The match finished 0-0 after extra time, Australia's hopes of making another World Cup down to a penalty shoot out.


Regular stopper Mathew Ryan was the man to make way for Redmayne after putting in a stellar performance to keep Peru off the board after 120 minutes.


After 120 goalless minutes, Aaron Mooy, Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jamie Maclaren and Awer Mabil all scored from the spot to make up for Martin Boyle's miss, before Redmayne denied Peru's Alex Valera to spark joyous celebrations at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.


The win means Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will lead the national men's side to a World Cup, having been under a world of pressure after missing automatic qualification in March.


His decision to bring on Redmayne in place of Ryan just before fulltime will go down as a master-stroke with the Sydney FC goalkeeper joining Mark Schwarzer and John Aloisi as a World Cup penalty shootout hero.


The result means Australia secures it's spot in Group D for this year's World Cup in November, part of a tough group that features Denmark, France and Tunisia.


France is ranked 3rd in the world, Denmark is ranked 11th, and Tunisia is 35th. Australia is ranked 42nd.


IMAGE: Sporting News.

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