The 2002 FIFA World Cup OFC–CONMEBOL qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the fifth-placed team from the South American qualifying tournament, Uruguay. The games were played on 20 November and 25 November 2001 in Melbourne and Montevideo respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Uruguay since 1990.
In the first leg, Australia beat Uruguay 1–0 in Melbourne while Uruguay took revenge in the second leg, easily defeating Australia 3–0 in Montevideo. Uruguay won the series 3–1 on aggregate, therefore qualifying for the World Cup held in Korea and Japan.Uruguay gana a Australia y completa la lista de 32 clasificados para el Mundial 2002 on El País, 25 Nov 2001Por la última plaza al Mundial. on La Nación (Argentina), 24 Nov 2001
Australian players were spited, punched and abused by a mob of Uruguayan fans on arrival at Montevideo's international airport for the second leg.
Venues
Background UruguayRoundAustraliaTeam181341421527431894523203311893631171430189362923630187651913627Final standingsTeam4400660661243012742394202730−2364103918−934004057−570Final round (OFC)OpponentResult1st leg (A)2–02nd leg (H)4–1
Match details First leg
GK 1 Mark SchwarzerRB 4 Paul Okon (c)CB 2 Kevin Muscat CB 14Shaun MurphyLB 5 Tony VidmarDM 3 Craig MooreRM 7 Brett EmertonCM 8 Josip SkokoLM 11Stan Lazaridis SS 10Harry KewellCF 9 Mark VidukaSubstitutions:GK 12Zeljko KalacDF 6 Tony PopovicDF 16Steve HorvatMF 13Mark BrescianoMF 17Steve CoricaFW 18Paul Agostino FW 21John AloisiManager:Frank Farina
GK 1 Fabián CariniRB 2 Washington TaisCB 3 Alejandro LemboCB 4 Paolo Montero (c)LB 6 Darío Rodríguez CM 7 Gianni GuigouCM 8 Gonzalo de los SantosCM 5 Pablo GarcíaAM 20Álvaro RecobaCF 19Javier Chevantón CF 11 Federico Magallanes Substitutions:GK 12Gustavo MunúaDF 14Joe BizeraMF 16Guillermo Giacomazzi FW 9 Diego AlonsoFW 10Nicolás OliveraFW 15Mario Regueiro FW 18Richard MoralesManager:Víctor Púa
OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Marco Ivaldi (Italy) Aniello Di Mauro (Italy) Fourth official: Cosimo Bolognino (Italy)MATCH RULES 90 minutes 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted
Second leg
GK 1 Fabián Carini RB 2 Washington Tais CB 3 Alejandro LemboCB 4 Paolo Montero (c)LB 6 Darío RodríguezCM 7 Gianni GuigouCM 5 Pablo García RW 9 Darío Silva AM 20Álvaro RecobaLW 10Mario Regueiro CF 11Federico Magallanes Substitutions:GK 12Gustavo MunúaDF 14Gonzalo Sorondo MF 8 Gonzalo de los Santos MF 15Guillermo GiacomazziFW 16Nicolás OliveraFW 18Richard Morales FW 19Diego AlonsoManager:Víctor Púa
GK 1 Mark SchwarzerRB 4 Paul Okon (c)CB 2 Kevin Muscat CB 14Shaun Murphy LB 5 Tony VidmarDM 3 Craig MooreRM 7 Brett EmertonCM 8 Josip SkokoLM 11Stan LazaridisSS 10Harry Kewell CF 9 Mark VidukaSubstitutions:GK 12Zeljko KalacDF 16Steve HorvatMF 13Mark BrescianoMF 17Steve CoricaMF 22Mile SterjovskiFW 18Paul Agostino FW 21John Aloisi Manager:Frank Farina
OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Ahmed Yaqqob Mohamed (UAE) Ali Abdulla Makhlouf (UAE) Fourth official: Musallam Al Bloushi (UAE)MATCH RULES 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level: 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted
Aftermath Uruguay qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Korea and Japan, and were drawn into Group A with defending champions France, Denmark and debutants Senegal. After losing 2–1 to Denmark in their opening match, Uruguay drew France 0–0 and in the final match they also drew 3–3 to Senegal despite being 3–0 down, finishing third in the group on two points.
Australia qualified automatically for the 2002 OFC Nations Cup, being drawn into a group with Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia and winning 2–0, 11–0 and 8–0 respectively. In the semi-finals against Tahiti, the Socceroos had to rely on a golden goal from Damian Mori in extra time to secure a 2–1 win and progression to the final against New Zealand, where they lost 1–0. New Zealand qualified for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Australia and Uruguay met again in the 2005 CONMEBOL-OFC play-off, with heightened security measures following the 2001 airport incident in Montevideo. This time, however, Australia came out victorious.
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