Captain Mile Jedinak led the way with a second-half hat-trick as Australia brushed aside Honduras 3-1 in the second leg of their intercontinental playoff to secure a place at next year's World Cup finals.
Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak celebrates a goal for Australia. Photo: Photosport
The midfielder settled his compatriots' nerves with a deflected free kick and two penalties to give Australia a comfortable aggregate victory after the 0-0 draw in the first leg last week.
Honduras were bidding for a third successive World Cup appearance but barely threatened the Australia goal until winger Alberth Elis scrambled the ball over the line in stoppage time.
It will be a fourth straight appearance at the World Cup finals, and fifth in total, for Asian champions Australia, who played 22 matches over 29 months to achieve their goal.
"It's unreal," Jedinak said. "We knew it was always going to be a difficult qualifying campaign but this makes it very, very special.
"It's been a tough two-and-a-half years to get to this point but we did it. We're very grateful we're going to another World Cup."
It remains to be seen if coach Ange Postecoglou will lead the squad to Russia but he was not about to spoil a party that started with a barrage of fireworks over Sydney harbour as soon as the final whistle sounded.
"Tonight is just about enjoying it ... what happens beyond here can be picked up tomorrow," said the coach, who was reported by local media to be considering his position.
"I'll sit down with the powers that be. Obviously it's important that the planning goes ahead ... it won't take too long. But I'm going to make sure I enjoy this first."
As in San Pedro Sula last Friday, the Socceroos had the better of a forgettable first half without being able to forge a breakthrough.
- Reuters
