|
Redmayne danced across the goal-line before diving to the right
to stop a penalty from Alex Valera and hand Australia a deserved
victory at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Redmayne had been brought on three minutes from the end of the
game for the shootout and became an instant hero with his antics
on the line as he looked to distract the rival kickers.
He danced up and down, wiggling his hips and throwing his arms
about in a throwback to the clowning antics of Liverpool's Bruce
Grobbelaar when they won the European Cup in 1984.
It was enough for Luis Advincila to fire his effort against the
post and then Valera to have his effort saved as Australia
qualified for a fifth successive World Cup and a sixth in total.
They will play in World Cup Group D with holders France, Denmark
and Tunisia. The finals run from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.
“I am just so proud of the players,” said Australia coach Graham
Arnold. “Really no one knows what these boys have been through
to get here, it was so hard, the whole campaign. The way they
stuck at it, the way they committed themselves, brilliant.”
Australia's Martin Boyle had missed their first penalty but they
converted the next five to silence the thousands of Peru fans
who had travelled for the game and provided noisy support but
saw their team conjure up few opportunities.
Instead, a workmanlike Australia dominated the early exchanges,
with winger Boyle twice cutting through the Peruvian defence to
provide teasing crosses.
LIMITED EFFORTS
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 and five minutes later Aziz Behich broke through
two tackles and suddenly found himself in front of goal but
narrowly missed as he tried to curl his shot into the net.
Then a run down the left by Australia substitute Awer Mabil saw
him slip the ball into the path of Hrustic but he did not get
enough power on his shot and Gallese saved again.
Nine minutes into extra time Australia's Mathew Ryan was finally
tested by a stinging shot from Edison Flores that the goalkeeper
saved.
Flores then headed against the post as the South Americans found
an extra gear in the closing stages but they were still unable
to settle the result after two hours of play, setting the stage
for Redmayne to emerge as a hero.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said: "We had the expectation to make
it, we were close but unfortunately it was not the case.
"We are flooded with pain. We gave our utmost. They emptied
their tanks and we feel deceived we are out of the World Cup. We
wanted to avoid the penalty shootout."
The single game playoff between the fifth-placed finishers in
Asian and South American qualifying determined the 31st place at
this year's World Cup.
On Tuesday, the last place at the finals will be decided when
Costa Rica and New Zealand clash in their inter-continental
playoff, also at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
