Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne seals the Socceroos a World Cup berth with penalty shootout heroics

Brought on for the penalty shootout, substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne delivered to seal Australia a fifth successive World Cup finals tournament appearance.

Socceroo Aaron Mooy scored in the penalty shootout. Picture: Karim Jaafar / AFP

Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the unlikely hero as the Socceroos beat Peru in a dramatic penalty shootout to qualify for a fifth successive World Cup.

Brought on to replace captain Mat Ryan in the final minute of extra-time by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold with scores locked at 0-0 and the shootout in mind, Redmayne delivered saving an Alex Valera penalty to seal Australia a 5-4 shootout win.

Bringing on Redmayne, a hero of Sydney FC’s 2019 A-League grand final penalty shootout win, proved a masterstroke by the much-maligned Arnold, who survived several calls for his axing during Australia’s rollercoaster qualifying campaign.

The shootout started badly for the Socceroos, with Martin Boyle having his spot kick saved by Peru’s captain and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

However, through Aaron Mooy, Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jamie Maclaren and Awer Mabil, the Socceroos didn’t miss another penalty in a shootout that needed sudden-death to decide it.

Andrew Redmayne celebrates with Aziz Behich. Picture: Karim Jaafar / AFP

Australian players react to Redmayne’s save. Picture: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

Guess who’s off to the World Cup? Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

The Socceroos had got back into the shootout when Peru’s Luis Advinculla hit the post with a penalty that may have also got a touch from Redmayne.

Redmayne, whose tactics include moving side-to-side on the goal line to put Peru’s penalty takers off, was later to stamp himself ion Australian football folklore with the shootout-deciding save to deny the shattered Valera.

But while it was tears of despair for Peru, it was tears of joy for the Socceroos, who booked their place in the November 21-December 18 World Cup in Qatar.

It was a deserved qualification, with the Socceroos having had the better of the 120 minutes against the South Americans.

In a cagey first half, right winger Boyle was Australia’s main attacking threat.

Having forced his way into Peru’s penalty area with a dangerous run in the 32nd minute, Boyle forced a heavy but fair tackle from midfielder Christofer Gonzales to halt his momentum.

Boyle was again prominent eight minutes later with a dangerous cross that found midfielder Jackson Irvine.

However, Irvine, who had cleverly drifted into space, failed to make a decent connection with his header.

Socceroos winger Martin Boyle passes the ball during Australia’s playoff against Peru. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

The Socceroos finally forced a save out of Peru goalkeeper Gallese in the 81st minute.

However, playmaker Hrustic’s long-distance free-kick was comfortably held by the custodian.

The Australians had two more chances before the end of the normal.

Left back Aziz Behich hit the outside of the post in the 85th minute after cutting inside and shooting with his weaker right foot.

Three minutes later Hrustic forced a save out of Gallese after the playmaker was found unmarked on the edge of the penalty area by substitute Mabil.

Peru had the first chance in extra-time in the 99th minute when substitute Edison Flores let flying with a stinging strike directed straight at Socceroos keeper Ryan, who gloved the ball without fuss.

The South Americans continued to attack, with Flores cutting the ball into the path of Cueva. whose 106th-minute strike flew wide of the post.

The woodwork came to the Socceroos’ rescue one minute later when a header from Flores hit the post.

Arnold made one change to the team that started last week in Australia’s 2-1 playoff win over the United Arab Emirates.

It came in attack, with centre-forward Mitch Duke replacing Goodwin – who came on in the dying stages – in a reshuffled forward line that allowed Mathew Leckie to shift to his preferred left-wing position.

Australia: Mat Ryan (c) (Andrew Redmayne 120’), Nathaniel Atkinson (Fran Karacic 91’), Bailey Wright, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich (Craig Goodwin 120’), Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Ajdin Hrustic, Martin Boyle, Mitch Duke (Awer Mabil 69’), Mathew Leckie (Jamie Maclaren 86’).

Peru: Pedro Gallese (c), Luis Advincula, Alexander Callens, Carlos Zambrano, Miguel Trauco, Renato Tapia, Andre Carrillo (Edison Flores 65’), Sergio Pena (Pedro Aquino 80’), Christofer Gonzales, Christian Cueva (Alex Valera 116’), Gianluca Lapadula.