Related News
Jedinak hat-trick seals Australia鈥檚 2018 WCup spot
Print Edition
Mile Jedinak stepped up when it counted most, propelling Australia into next year鈥檚 World Cup with a hat-trick yesterday in a 3-1 victory over Honduras that secured the next-to-last spot in Russia.
The Australia captain was in doubt for the intercontinental playoff series with a groin injury that had forced him to miss the end of the Asian qualifying campaign, when the Socceroos narrowly missed out on direct entry.
But Jedinak played a full game in the 0-0 draw in San Pedro Sula last Friday and, aided by the state-of-the-art rehabilitation program on Australia鈥檚 charter flight home, took the free kick that broke the scoring drought in the 54th minute at Sydney鈥檚 ANZ Stadium.
His free kick curled to the left of the wall and deflected sharply in off defender Henry Figueroa, bringing the parochial 77,060-strong crowd to life.
He converted from the spot in the 72nd after referee Nestor Pitana penalized Bryan Acosta for a hand ball and again calmly slotted home another penalty in the 85th after Robbie Kruse was dragged down in the area. After 22 games and 27 months, the win ensured Asian Cup champion Australia qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup.
鈥淚t wouldn鈥檛 have mattered who scored. I鈥檓 happy to chip in,鈥 Jedinak said. 鈥淲e got the job done and that鈥檚 all that matters 鈥 it鈥檚 going to be a big 2018.鈥
Honduras scored a consolation goal deep in injury time in a scramble in front of goal with Alberth Elis and Maynor Figueroa both taking swipes at the ball from close range.
The result meant Asia got a full quota of five teams into the World Cup in Russia, with 31 of the 32 places decided. Peru was hosting New Zealand to determine the last qualifier later in the day.
Under-fire coach Ange Postecoglou said he was delighted for his Australian team, and declined to comment on his future amid speculation that he may not stay on to take the Socceroos to the World Cup.
鈥淭hey got what they deserved 鈥 it wasn鈥檛 by luck or by chance,鈥 said Postecoglou, who took on the Australian job just before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 鈥淭hey believed in something that we started, and right to the end they displayed the kind of resilience and belief that has made me proud all the way along. They did it their way, and got great rewards for it.鈥
On his position, he said: 鈥淚鈥檒l sit down with the powers that be. Obviously it鈥檚 important that the planning goes ahead ... it won鈥檛 take too long. But I鈥檓 going to make sure I enjoy this first.鈥
While the Australians invested heavily in the charter flight to get home on Sunday after the first leg, the Honduras squad took a commercial flight and arrived a day later.
But with veteran skipper Maynor Figueroa returning, and Elis adding pace on the flank, Honduras lifted its tempo in the first half and frustrated the Australian attack.
Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto said the Australians clearly worked to neutralize Elis out wide, and the momentum shift was too great after the opening goal. 鈥淎ustralia were very strong and aggressive and put pressure on us. In the first half the game was more balanced 鈥 in the second half, the (first) goal took a toll,鈥 Pinto said. 鈥淭he second goal, there was contact with the player鈥檚 hand, but it wasn鈥檛 intentional.鈥
Honduras earned its place in the playoff with a 3-2 win over Mexico on a hectic last day of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean, securing fourth spot and ensuring the United States missed out.
Australia advanced after beating Syria for fifth place in Asian qualifying, with veteran Tim Cahill scoring twice in Sydney.
Cahill returned to the team from injury and started as a lone striker but his teammates were unable to present him with any clear-cut chances to notch up his 51st international goal.
Cahill was also involved when Australia edged Uruguay on penalties in a playoff in 2005 to qualify for the following year鈥檚 World Cup in Germany. He was there when the Australians qualified directly from Asia for 2010 and 2014. There is a good chance he鈥檒l be in Russia, too, well after he has turned 38.
鈥淭o help my country qualify for four World Cups is something I will be proud of when I get ... even older,鈥 the former Everton player said. 鈥淚 feel like a young kid. I would鈥檝e done anything to be part of this group and I will do anything to stay a part of it.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
