Advertisement

Jedinak the hero as Socceroos qualify for 2018 World Cup

Australia captain Mile Jedinak was the hero as the Socceroos qualified for the World Cup.

Australia captain Mile Jedinak was the hero as the Socceroos qualified for the World Cup. Photo: Getty

Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak struck a glorious hat-trick to send Australia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday evening.

Jedinak’s treble – two of which came from the penalty spot after his deflected free-kick opened the scoring – saw an initially nervy Australia overcome Honduras 3-1 in Sydney and reach sport’s biggest party for the fourth time in a row.

More than 77,000 fans piled into Stadium Australia for the do-or-die playoff and after a frustrating first half, Jedinak eased the tension when his 53rd-minute free-kick took a wicked deflection off Honduras substitute Henry Figueroa.

Further fortune was to come Australia’s way when Honduras defender Bryan Acosta was unlucky to see the ball strike his hand when attempting to make a clearance in his own penalty area.

A spot-kick was given and Jedinak buried it with 17 minutes to go, before repeating the dose with five minutes left after substitute Robbie Kruse was cynically hacked down, meaning Alberth Ellis’ goal was no more than a late consolation.

“It’s a bit hard to describe. It’s unreal,” Jedinak told Fox Sports after the match. “We’re very grateful that we’re going to another World Cup.

“It was our duty as a nation of football players to get this job done.

“We were set a task two-and-a-half years ago and we stuck to our guns. It’s time to enjoy this moment and then look forward to 2018.”

Postecoglou shuffled his pack for the return leg, bringing in attacking trio Tim Cahill, Mathew Leckie and Tom Rogic, and midfielder Mark Milligan, and it was one of his inclusions who was central to the first half’s key moment.

Rogic found himself free after Aziz Behich’s clever cut-back from the byline, but the Celtic star could only scuff his 37th-minute effort at Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober.

That Rogic’s effort was the best chance of the first half said it all, with the opening 45 minutes littered with fouls – one of which saw Socceroo Matthew Jurman perhaps lucky to only receive a yellow card – injury stoppages and football of little quality.

Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill was added to the starting line-up. Photo: Getty

It looked a night where the Socceroos needed a stroke of luck and it came just eight minutes after the resumption.

After a mazy Rogic run won Australia a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, it was Jedinak – not usual suspect Mooy – who took the set-piece. 

The opening goal brought the Socceroos to life, with Cahill only denied Australia’s second by the woodwork just five minutes later.

Rogic was again involved, crossing from the left, and Cahill rose acrobatically above Figueroa to head towards goal from 15 yards.

It would have been an outrageous goal and Escober, who was caught out, saw the ball cannon off the bar before scrambling to contest Cahill for the rebound, where he was ultimately fouled.

Rogic then fired just wide on the turn from distance before referee Nestor Fabian Pitana pointed to the penalty spot with 19 minutes to play.

That allowed Jedinak another chance to shine and he made no mistake, burying the spot-kick in the bottom left corner before running around the pitch to celebrate.

It forced Honduras to go for broke and, caught out at the back, it ended up conceding again after Johnny Palacios brought down Kruse and conceded a penalty.

And Jedinak, well and truly the man of the moment, did the job again, sparking wild celebrations inside the famous Olympic Stadium, even if Ellis’ goal took some minor gloss off the scoreline.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.