Thanks to goals from two Bundesliga pros, Australia kept their chance of taking part in the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.
In the playoff game of the Asian qualification, the Australians prevailed 2-1 (0-0) against the United Arab Emirates on neutral ground in ar-Rayyan in Qatar on Tuesday evening.
Jackson Irvine from second division club FC St. Pauli gave the Australians the lead (53rd minute);
Caio Canedo equalized a little later (57th).
After a few missed chances, Ajdin Hrustic (84th), who triumphed in the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt last month, scored for the Socceroos, who were jubilant at the end.
On June 13th the Australians will fight against Peru - the fifth in the South America qualifiers - in the intercontinental decider for the 31st of 32 World Cup tickets.
For Australia it would be the sixth World Cup participation after 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 - and the fifth in a row.
The 32nd and last World Cup participant will be determined on June 14 between Costa Rica (North and Central America/Caribbean) and New Zealand (Oceania), also at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar's ar-Rayyan.
The winner of this game goes into Group E with Germany, Spain and Japan.
The winner of the Australia-Peru clash moves into Group D with holders France, Denmark and Tunisia.