Australia are rejoicing after securing qualification for successive FIFA World Cups™ for the first time, even if the response is far more muted than that which greeted the heart-stopping triumph against Uruguay four years ago. A scoreless draw with Qatar in Doha secured the point the Socceroos required for a berth at South Africa 2010, and earned their third appearance on the world stage since an unheralded debut in 1974.
Tim Cahill came closest to winning all three points for
the Aussies but the post denied the Everton midfielder,
whose stunning bicycle kick would have been a
spectacular and apt way to seal a place in South Africa.
Nevertheless, had it not been for Japan's win in
Uzbekistan a few hours earlier, Australia would have
been the first team to qualify for South Africa, a far
cry from their drama-charged last-day triumph last time
around.
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