Tuesday, 18th June, 2013
Australia have become the third country to qualify for next year’s World Cup after their 1-0 win over Iraq in Sydney today.
With Japan having secured their berth earlier this month with a 1-1 draw against the Socceroos, and Brazil being the hosts, it was Australia’s last chance to clinch automatic qualification.
And it needed a late salvo from Australia, as J. League striker Joshua Kennedy earned them the win with an 83rd-minute strike at the ANZ stadium.
The win means Holger Osieck’s Australia have qualified for their third consecutive World Cup, and will join Japan in Brazil next summer.
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Australia needed all three points against the Iraqis to ensure automatic qualification, and Kennedy was left to celebrate what he claimed was the most important goal of his life.
He was quoted by Fox Sports in Australia as saying: "That was probably the most important goal I have ever scored. I don’t know what to say. Amazing. Really proud of the boys.
"It was meant to be. The boss was saving something for the last game. It is an amazing moment for me and for the boys.
"It’s been a long road to get back to where I am now and this is the icing on the cake."
Australia’s win in Group B means only Group A has the two automatic qualification spots left, whilst one berth will be awarded to the winner of the continental play-off.
Group A will see a tense battle unfold later when South Korea take on Iran in a table-topping clash, with the sides separated by just a single point.
Elsewhere, Uzbekistan, two points behind Iran, will face 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to boost their own qualification prospects.
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