World Cup Inter-Continental Playoff 2022: Australia beat Peru 5-4 on penalties to BOOK their place in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar, Watch Australia beat Peru HIGHLIGHTS

Australia qualified for the World Cup after beating Peru 5-4 on penalties following a goalless Intercontinental Play-off in Doha.

Socceroos boss Graham Arnold made the brave decision to substitute goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan for Andrew Redmayne ahead of the shoot-out, but was vindicated as the 33-year-old – who danced on his line for the spot-kicks – saved the decisive penalty from Alex Valera.

World Cup Inter-Continental Playoff 2022: Australia beat Peru 5-4 on penalties to BOOK their place in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar, Watch Australia beat Peru HIGHLIGHTS, DOHA, QATAR – JUNE 13: Players of Australia celebrate their sides victory after a penalty shoot out following the 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff match between Australia Socceroos and Peru at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

Peru, 22nd in the FIFA rankings, went in as favourites but started tentatively as Australia made the early running, particularly Martin Boyle who did well to beat two Peru defenders on the right in the 23rd minute before his inviting cross evaded everybody.

World Cup Inter-Continental Playoff 2022: Australia BOOK their place in the Qatar World Cup

Ricardo Gareca’s team improved in the second half, but the first shot on target did not arrive until the 81st minute via an Ajdin Hrustic free-kick that never troubled Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who denied Hrustic two minutes from time with a sweeping shot down to his left from a low Awer Mabil cross.

La Blanquirroja came closest to winning it in extra time as substitute Edison Flores rose to win a header at the far post, but could only hit the woodwork, and so to penalties it went.

World Cup Inter-Continental Playoff 2022: Australia beat Peru 5-4 on penalties to BOOK their place in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar, Watch Australia beat Peru HIGHLIGHTS, DOHA, QATAR – JUNE 13: Christian Cueva of Peru charges forward with the ball in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff match between Australia Socceroos and Peru at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Both teams failed with one each from the first five kicks, before Mabil scored and the dancing Redmayne saved from Valera to win it for Australia, who will go into World Cup Group D when they return to Qatar in November to go up against France, Denmark and Tunisia.