7 most memorable World Cup playoff ties

#2 Australia vs. Uruguay, 2006 World Cup qualifiers

This one was a tie that became so famous in Australia – who ran out victorious and qualified for their first World Cup in over three decades – that it’s known purely by the date of the fateful second leg – November 16th. Four years earlier, the two sides had faced one another in the playoffs for the 2002 World Cup, with Uruguay winning 3-0 in the second leg to overturn a 1-0 loss in the first. To put it simply, Australia were outclassed.

Realistically – despite the Aussie side containing the likes of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill – all Premier League stars – the same result could’ve happened again. Despite flying through the easier OFC qualifiers, Australia fired boss Frank Farina and hired veteran Guus Hiddink, just three months prior to the playoffs. Uruguay won the first leg 1-0 in Montevideo and appeared to be in the driving seat, but they hadn’t reckoned on the fighting spirit of the Aussies.

A goal from Mark Bresciano levelled the tie, and with both sides unable to break the deadlock, the game went to penalties. In front of a partisan Aussie crowd, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill and Tony Vidmar held their nerve, while Mark Viduka’s miss was offset by misses from Dario Rodriguez and Marcelo Zalayeta. John Aloisi ended up netting the decisive penalty and Australia were headed to their first World Cup for 32 years.