World Cup Play-Offs: Mile Jedinak The Unlikely Hat-Trick Hero As Australia Book Berth At Russia 2018 (Photos & Video)

Chris Wright

15th, November 2017

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After Tim Cahill’s headstrong heroics in the previous round, it was Mile Jedinak who emerged as the somewhat unlikely catalyst for Australia as they booked themselves a berth at the 2018 World Cup with a cross-continental play-off win over Honduras.

The two sides produced a goalless draw in the first leg in San Pedro Sula on Friday, so a 3-1 victory on home soil in Sydney this morning was enough to swing it for the Socceroos.

All the goals came in the second half, with Jedinak breaking the deadlock with a heavily deflected freekick, 53 minutes in…

Jedinak then demonstrated clangers the size of cane toads as the Aston Villa midfielder doubled the Aussies’ lead with a 72nd-minute penalty…

Jedinak then added a futher penalty in the 85th minute to seal the deal, with Honduras eventually pulling back a consolation goal through Alberth Elis in the final minute of stoppage time. Too little, too late.

And so, Australia qualify for their fourth World Cup on the bounce thanks to one man – a 33-year-old defensive midfielder – and his first ever career hat-trick.

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Fittingly, his Wikipedia profile has already been updated…

Hard to argue with that.

Posted in International football, Videos, World Cup

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