SYDNEY: Mile Jedinak didn’t miss when it counted, propelling Australia into next year’s World Cup with three goals in Wednesday’s 3-1 intercontinental playoff victory over Honduras.
The Australia captain was in doubt for the series with a groin injury that had forced him to miss end of the Asian qualifying campaign, when his team narrowly missed out on direct entry to the tournament in Russia.
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 programme on Australia’s charter flight home, took the free kick that broke the scoring drought in the 54th minute at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.
The Aston Villa midfielder’s free kick curled to the left of the wall and deflected sharply in off defender Henry Figueroa, bringing the parochial 77,060-strong crowd at Sydney’s Olympic stadium to life.
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He converted from the spot in the 72nd after referee Nestor Pitana penalised Bryan Acosta for a hand ball and again calmly slotted home another penalty after Robbie Kruse was dragged down in the area in the 85th.
Honduras were bidding for a third successive World Cup appearance but barely threatened the Australia goal until winger Alberth Elis scrambled the ball over the line in stoppage time.
It will be a fourth straight appearance at the World Cup finals, and fifth in total, for Asian champions Australia and follows a mammoth 22-game, 29-month qualifying campaign criss-crossing Asia, the Middle East and Central America.
“It’s unreal,” Jedinak said. “We knew it was always going to be a difficult qualifying campaign but this makes it very, very special. It’s been a tough two-and-a-half years to get to this point but we did it. We’re very grateful we’re going to another World Cup.”
After a cagey first half, the game unravelled for Honduras when Jedinak struck three times in the last 36 minutes.
“Australia were very strong and aggressive and put pressure on us and tried to neutalise us,” Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto told reporters. “The first half was more balanced and the handball [for the first penalty] wasn’t intentional.”
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 were hosting New Zealand for the last spot later on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if under-fire coach Ange Postecoglou will lead the squad to Russia but he was not about to spoil a party that started with a barrage of fireworks over Sydney harbour as soon as the final whistle sounded.
“Tonight is just about enjoying it ... what happens beyond here can be picked up tomorrow,” said the coach, who was reported by local media to be considering his position.
“I’ll sit down with the powers that be. Obviously it’s important that the planning goes ahead ... it won’t take too long. But I’m going to make sure I enjoy this first.
“It’s overwhelming to be honest. When you are coaching your own nation to burden of responsibility is even greater, you know what it means to the nation and the game.
“They [players] got what they deserved. It wasn’t by luck or chance, they believed in something that we started and right to the end they displayed the resilience and belief that has made me proud all the way along. They did it their way, and got great rewards for it.”
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