San Pedro Sula: Two matches stand between Australia and a place at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 with the first leg of the Intercontinental Play-off against Honduras at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano to take place on Friday afternoon Honduran time.
Facing their first Intercontinental Play-off since edging past Uruguay in 2005 to progress to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Socceroos will be looking for a strong result to take back to Sydney ahead of the second leg next Wednesday.
Australia
Ange Postecoglou’s Australia narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for Russia 2018 after finishing third in Group B, behind Saudi Arabia on goal difference, in Asia’s third round of qualifying.
Tim Cahill’s brace in the second leg of the Continental Play-off against Syria in Sydney eventually saw the Socceroos advance past the West Asians 3-2 on aggregate after extra-time following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Melaka.
It will be Australia’s sixth appearance in the Intercontinental Play-offs, having previously suffered defeats to Scotland (1985), Argentina (1993), the Islamic Republic of Iran (1997) and Uruguay (2001).
But the Socceroos eventually ended their jinx in 2005, when they overcame the Uruguayans on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw to progress to their first FIFA World Cup since 1974, before qualifying for the next two editions automatically.
Aaron Mooy is the man the Socceroos look to for inspiration, with the midfielder pulling the strings from the centre of the park.
The Huddersfield Town playmaker missed the 2-0 loss to Japan at the end of August in what was Australia’s only defeat in Group B.
Elsewhere, striker Tomi Juric can be lethal if afforded space inside the area, James Troisi has enjoyed a return to form in recent times and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has been outstanding in Brighton and Hove Albion’s maiden campaign in England’s Premier League.
Honduras
Los Catrachos have appeared at the previous two FIFA World Cups and are looking to advance to their fourth edition of football’s greatest spectacle after progressing to the Intercontinental Play-offs in the most dramatic of fashion.
After winning just one of their first five matches in the six-team fifth round of CONCACAF qualifiers, Honduras went unbeaten in their next four to leave it all to play for in their final game against regional heavyweights Mexico.
With hosts Honduras losing 2-1 at the interval, Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa put through his own net before Romell Quioto struck the winner on the hour as La H secured fourth place in the group and a date with Australia.
The two-legged match with the Socceroos marks Honduras’ first appearance in the Intercontinental Play-offs, having qualified for the World Cup automatically in 1982, 2010 and 2014.
A veteran of two World Cups, defender Maynor Figueroa is his country’s most capped player and, at 34, the FC Dallas man will want to cap a fine international career with one last appearance on the biggest stage.
Quioto was his side’s top scorer in the previous round of qualifying while his Houston Dynamo teammate, Alberth Elis, has also netted crucial goals, including the opener in the 3-2 victory over Mexico.
Honduras v Australia
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula
Kick-off: November 10, 16:00 UTC-6
Photos: Getty Images, CONCACAF.com, AFP
Source: the-afc.com