Russia here we come! Socceroos sink Honduras to seal World Cup finals place

IT wasn’t easy but the Socceroos are going to Russia. Inspirational captain Mile Jedinak’s hat-trick was enough to send Australia to their fourth consecutive World Cup.

Teammates swarm Mile Jedinak after his second goal.

IT was the night Australia voted Yes for the World Cup.

After two-and-a-half years of slog, the ultimate prize of a place in Russia next year is the Socceroos’ prize thanks to a 3-1 victory over Honduras at ANZ Stadium.

How they got there, and the agonies endured on their way, can be discussions for another day. Like the other history-changing result earlier in the day, victory was all that mattered.

Mile Jedinak was the starring figure of the night, a leader in every sense. His was the freekick that finally broke the deadlock, and his were the twin penalties that extended the advantage.

The sky-high skipper! Mile Jedinak celebrates his second penalty.

The crowd of 77,060 got the result they wanted in the end, even if the final minutes seemed to slow to an agonising crawl until Jedinak’s third, with five minutes left, was the cue for a party of pure relief.

Standing at a fork in the road, for themselves and the game, the Australians took the correct option. Now they can start preparing for a place on the biggest stage of all.

PLAYER RATINGS: Mile Jedinak’s perfect 10

FEAR THE BEARD: Nation in awe of skipper

Perhaps on a night of such high stakes, the quality of the contest was never likely to be high. There was so much to play for and yet almost a sense beforehand of expectation; excitement among the fans converging on ANZ Stadium but not the tension of a crowd seriously contemplating the prospect of losing.

Teammates swamp Mile Jedinak.

The players, though, seemed far more cognisant of what they were playing for. In the second minute Matt Jurman’s miscontrol forced him into an ugly lunge into Alberth Elis for which he was correctly booked.

For long stretches the Socceroos were becalmed and Honduras were determined to hold them at distance.

ANALYSIS: Ange stares down his critics

TRIUMPH: Moments that matter

On the half-hour Postecoglou stood on the sideline and urged his players forward in numbers; but seconds later there were groans of discontent as another home attack turned back on itself.

Finally Australia fashioned a presentable chance. Cahill was involved but for once on the wing — stuck in the corner, he laid a clever pass inward for Aziz Behich to cross low. Taking the shot first time, Tom Rogic scuffed it and the ball was an easy claim for Donis Escobar.

If anything too many cooks unbalanced the Socceroos’ broth. With Mile Jedinak so deep in midfield he had become part of the defence, and there were six effectively in attack. Postecoglou, as ever, wasn’t about to die wondering.

One of those in the forward line, Tom Rogic, had struggled for space for the first 53 minutes, stymied by the Honduran tackling. But that was the point when he set off on a charging run, slaloming through the Honduran half until tripped just outside the box.

Tim Cahill was at his inspiring best.

Rogic was one of the options to take the freekick, but the captain pulled rank. Jedinak’s strike wasn’t overly threatening but it hit Henry Figueroa and deflected in.

How Australia needed some luck, a quality that had deserted them in recent ties. Gloriously, there was more to come their way on 71 minutes as Bryan Acosta stretched for the ball in his own penalty box and it brushed his hand. The eagle eyes of referee Nestor Pitana spotted the offence, and Jedinak thumped home the penalty.

Aaron Mooy showed his class once again.

Acosta drove a promising freekick too high as Honduras belatedly tried to recover, but with five minutes left Robbie Kruse was sent clear and then sent flying as he prepared to shoot. With supreme assurance, Jedinak’s penalty made it 3-0, and even a late consolation for Alberth Elis, scrambled in at close range, couldn’t spoil the night.

AUSTRALIA 3 (Jedinak 54, 72-pen, 85-pen) HONDURAS 1 Honduras 1 (Elis (90+4)

FIFA World Cup Intercontinental playoffs – Second leg

Australia advances to Russia 2018

Crowd: 77,060 at ANZ Stadium

Socceroos (3-2-4-1): Ryan; Wright, Sainsbury, Jurman; Jedinak, Milligan; Leckie, Mooy, Rogic, Behich; Cahill.

Honduras (5-2-2-1): Escober; Beckeles, Palacios, M Figueroa, Alvarado, Izaguirre (H Figueroa 42); Claros, Acosta; Elis, Quioto; Lozano.

Referee: Nestor Pitana (ARG).

Red cards: Nil.