Hmm, Australia v Uruguay. 4 years ago Australia faced Iran in a playoff for the World Cup to be held in France but things were a little different then. For a start the MCG match was the deciding game, not the first leg. Also Australia were widely expected to beat Iran, even I was quite confident of success. This time though, mainly by virtue of being a South American opponent, Uruguay are considered a much tougher hurdle. This is odd since Australia generally does well against South American sides and rather poorly against Asian teams in comparison.
The last meeting between these two sides also ended in a 1-0 to Australia at the 1997 Confederations Cup. A competition which they played mere days after those fateful games against Iran. The last time Uruguay came to Australia to play Australia had already qualified for the World Cup in 1974. To complete the picture Australia won and drew in 1974, lost to Uruguay 2-0 in Montevideo in 1992 and beat them with a golden goal in 1997. From that 1997 match many players from both sides remain to play today, also the Uruguayan coach remains.
Australia had to wait until the final round of matches of the CONMEBOL qualifiers was completed before their opponent was finally determined. This meant preparation time was short not only tactically but also logistically. In the end Uruguay became the 5th placed nation in the qualifiers by drawing 1-1 to Argentina and Colombia's 4-0 win fell narrowly short of displacing Uruguay for 5th. The other possible contender for 5th place , Brazil, scored an emphatic win to avoid Australia.
The late conclusion of the matches in South America meant the game was moved from a weekend date to a Tuesday night, as a compromise between the wishes of Australia and Uruguay. It almost meant I would not go but some late organisation meant a 20 hour stay in Melbourne was possible after all.
The flight down to the second largest city in Australia was quickly followed by a checkin at the same hotel I had stayed at 4 years prior. I then finished reading the chapter of Harry Potter I was on when the plane landed (my sister told me it was a must read and I have to admit it was quite good) and got some lunch. I also had to find myself a Socceroo shirt having misplaced both my others. That done it became time to head off to the Cricketers Arms hotel to meet up with some of the other miscreants I share a lot of my football related online time with. The tragedy is that events such as this are 4 years apart.
As I walked in the sidestreet, inside and courtyard area were full to the brim. Sometime in the intervening time before my departure 2 flares were ignited in, or at least near, the pub which led to the bar being closed and, as I walked out, a non-trivial number of police ensuring orderly behaviour.
By the time I actually made it to the stadium I was tarting to get those feelings I had so far been spared. Still a seat from the top tier of the Great Southern Stand allowed me to take in the sights. Prior to the match a Mexican wave made it's way around the stadium, the traditional boos as the members stand largely refused to participate. Two imposters in the stand performed their own wave with the all pervasive "Go Aussie" signs held high above their heads. Many signs and banners adorned the fences around the stadium. The Bay 23 boys from Sydney with what seemed to be the largest banner, Andrew Howe's Socceroo banner on an upper tier and a myriad of others making the place seem almost festive. Briefly the "Fuck U FIFA" sign made an appearance and although a boxing kangaroo flag was diplomatically draped over the "uc" officials obviously felt it wasn't appropriate in any form.
On the field a variety of music acts tried to make this event feel more like a pissant Big Day Out concert than a game of Football. One of the ballboys was practicing his heading skills, it was more fun to watch than just about everything else.
The Australians had a great cheer when they came out for their warm-up, Uruguay didn't emerge until it was time to lineup for the kickoff. The national anthems came and went, the Australian one with gusto by the entire stadium and the Uruguay anthem was entirely instrumental. Word was that the microphone failed for the performer, quite odd.
The match finally got underway and I was able to concentrate on something worthwhile. That said, in retrospect, it seemes like a blur punctuated by the goal.
It seemed clear that Uruguay, missing their trump card Dario Silva, playing away had it in mind to avoid trouble first and take advantage of any opportunities that might arise second. Indeed the first goal attempt was a piece of extreme audacity when Alvaro Recoba tried to lob Schwarzer from halfway. To Recoba's credit it took a rapidly backpedalling keeper and a wobbly catch to ensure the ball stayed out of Australia's net.
After around 5 minutes Australia won their first corner which was taken by Stan Lazaridis. The ball swung out and was met firmly by Craig Moore at the far post, Carini flew up and tipped the ball over the bar. It was to be the first of many corners for Australia but none would be as productive as that one. Whether the Uruguayan defence should be credited with some solid defence against what is considered one of Australia's strengths, or whether Australia were useless at set pieces is not clear.
A lot of Australia did was bright and enterprising, right up until it came to the final pass or shot. It seemed to me that Australia were taking the possession approach, when the option of a thrust forward was there it was not taken. This early in the game it was probably part of the plan. Uruguay too were keen on holding the ball but had a bit more adventure in their forward play. For all of the talk of Kewell and Lazaridis taking defenders on it seemed a rare event that they did.
All this was probably amplified by the gentleman on my right who clearly knew more about this game than all the players on the field combined. Everytime an Aussie pass ran astray or was intercepted Australia were showing their undeservedness for even playing the game. He was being won over though and after halftime he sat a little further away from me.
On my left Ivan the baker was much more personable.
Uruguay too had their share of close shaves with a timely tackle or the linesman saving Australia's blushes.
For all the pre-match hype about the "physical" nature of Uruguay's play the game was played in the fairest manner. Much more civil than those phlegmatic French. A Dario Rodrigues foul from behind on Harry Kewell earnt the first yellow of the match and after over half an hour of the game had elapsed.
At the conclusion of the first half the general impression was that Australia had the better of play, perhaps the 8-0 count of corners to Australia was some testament to that. Still within me the nagging doubts started to grow and a repeat of one of "those" matches was about to unfold where Australia would toil valiantly but get suckerpunched and have nothing to show for it at full time.
The halftime introduction of Agostino for Lazaridis, pushing Kewell to the left generally improved the look of Australia as a threat and one continues to wonder why Frank Farina persists with Kewell up front when most pundits agree he is better down the flank, running at defenders.
At the fifty minute mark an Okon foul gave Uruguay a free kick in harmless territory but Recoba's long kick found a majestically rising de los Santos square on the forehead. It would have probably been a goal had the header not been misdirected 2 metres wide of the post. Times like those simply fuelled my fears of yet another heroic failure which Australia has a reputation for.
Indeed Recoba was at the heart of most things good about Uruguay and the rumours that Dario Silva would return for the second leg after initially being ruled out smell both of fear on the part of Uruguay and danger to Australia.
As the half wore on Harry was making more and more of his runs and with both Agostino and Viduka to aim at there was a great deal more potential, but at the same time Uruguay too were making a much better fist of making Schwarzer earn his clean sheet. Recoba, again, shooting at goal from the byline and forcing Schwarzer into conceding only the second corner for Uruguay being a perfect illustration of what can happen.
A free kick for a foul on Agostino on 65 minutes was taken by Kewell near the flag and proved another close call as Carini could only palm the ball a few metres and 2 successive overhead bicycle kicks from first Murphy and then Agostino failed to find the net. Barely two minutes later Viduka lunged at a ball which was eventually claimed by Carini and 3 blue shirts stood over Viduka in what at first seemed like the start of some distasteful scene but no, I was wrongly prejudiced. All three ensured it was Carini who had a firm hold of the ball and then walked off to let Viduka sort himself out.
The flow was very much going towards the blue end of the pitch and as my favourite minute ticked past Harry Kewell beat the offside trap and again, sent the ball into the vicinity of the penalty spot where Agostino got his head to the ball despite the close attentions of a defender and beat Carini. Sadly the join of the crossbar and post prevented one thing all but a handful of the stadium were praying for. Every failed chance starting to stretch the tension to yet unexplored levels and it was fairly well accepted anything but a win was not going to be enough to go to Montevideo with for Australia. Now there were less than 20 minutes left and some very presentable opportunites had stayed out. I was starting to feel ill.
Eventually it came. Again Kewell to the left had made space and crossed the ball quickly to the space in front of Agostino charging through on goal. Agostino had, minutes earlier, seen a header from a corner glance off his head and go wide...this time too he could not put the ball in the net but it was due to a push from I don't know who. The roar of the crowd was huge, the import of the moment not lost on any of them. Quickly though it died down because we had no goal yet, and more to the point who would take the kick? In the end it was Muscat, who was at unbackable odds to get booked in this game after his performace against France, who stepped up. Penalties and Australia are not always good friends and in this case too Muscat's sidefooted shot down the middle had more to thank from Carini's dive to the right of goal than any technique. Nevertheless the moment was sheer bliss. The worries of all the world fell away and the crowd flew on the crest of the sound as it rose from the heart of every Australian to celebrate this moment when a Melbourne boy stuck the ball into the net and give Australia the lead in a final qualifying tie, once again.
The final ten or so minutes were a mix of terror and joy. The crowd washed sound from one side to another, chanting, cheering, ohh-ing and ahh-ing and at the last whistling pleas to have the referee imitate them.
A last minute corner to Uruguay was met by Alejandro Lembo who headed just wide. Many hearts missed a beat and it was not lost on anyone that the game was only just reaching halftime eventhough the clock was over 90 minutes. That said the final whistle came and the cheer of the crowd was just reward for a performance which was the best result for Australia in the ultimate tie for a world cup berth since the last time we made it, in 1973.