The history of the Socceroos vs South America in World Cup play-offs

The Socceroos' clash with Peru in Qatar will be the fourth time Australia have faced a South American opponent in a World Cup play-off.

SOCCEROOS' HISTORY IN WORLD CUP PLAY-OFFS AGAINST SOUTH AMERICAN TEAMS AHEAD OF THEIR CLASH WITH PERU IN QATAR

1993 - ARGENTINA

A beautiful team goal 😍 #OnThisDay in 1993, we drew 1-1 with @Argentina in the first leg of our @FIFAWorldCup play-off. #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/iMCmketDUG
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) October 30, 2020

Having breezed through Oceania qualifying, Australia got themselves within one step of a first World Cup since 1974 after defeating Canada in a home-and-away play-off. Standing in their way was an Argentina team that had reached the final of three of the past four World Cups. Humiliated 5-0 by Colombia in South American qualifying, Argentina were buoyed by the return of legendary Diego Maradona after a dispute with manager Alfio Basile. A crowd of 43,967 at the Sydney Football Stadium watched Australia draw 1-1 with Aurelio Vidmar scoring the home team's goal. In front of a partisan 67,000 crowd in Buenos Aires 18 days later, Maradona's men claimed a 1-0 win to eliminate Australia and qualify for USA '94.

2001 - URUGUAY

The professor of penalties.

To celebrate Kevin Muscat's birthday, relive his penalty 🆚 Uruguay in 2001!#AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/By5KiIQesk
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 7, 2020

Australia's World Cup dream had been shattered four years earlier by a dramatic Iranian comeback at the MCG, but a 1-0 first leg win thanks to Kevin Muscat's second-half penalty over Uruguay at the same ground had the Socceroos dreaming a first tournament qualification since 1974 was in their grasp. The play-offs again became the stuff of nightmares as soon as Australia's players arrived at Montevideo airport for the second leg. Spat on, punched and abused by a mob of Uruguayan fans, the team were then kept awake by noisy supporters outside their team hotel before succumbing to a 3-0 loss by an Alvaro Recoba-inspired team.

2005 - URUGUAY

November 16, 2005.

On this day, we defeated Uruguay in one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history.

Re-live it all below. pic.twitter.com/teFGEVFZTL
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 16, 2018

It was a case of 'won't get fooled again' as the more street-wise Socceroos lined up to take on Uruguay four years on for their Montevideo shambles. This time the first leg was in South America and while the hosts still claimed a win, it was just 1-0 and Guus Hiddink's team quickly flew back to Sydney on a chartered flight with a specialised fit-out to prepare for the second leg. A hostile Australian crowd repaid the favour to the South Americans from the previous play-off as Mark Bresciano's first-half goal levelled the tie. Level on aggregate after extra-time Australia won the shootout thanks to two saves from Mark Schwarzer before John Aloisi's sealer sparked euphoric celebrations and ended Australia's 32-year wait to reach a World Cup.