It’s difficult to imagine a more nerve-racking way to qualify for a World Cup than a penalty shootout in the intercontinental play-off. You have two teams that just traveled across the world to Qatar and one was going to head home on the longest, saddest flight imaginable.
That team happened to be Peru.
Peru and Australia met on Monday in Qatar at Al Rayyan Stadium with the winner advancing to Group D of the World Cup. The match needed to go beyond 120 minutes to decide the winner, but it was a bold strategic move from Australia coach Graham Arnold that had the soccer world buzzing.
Late in extra time, Arnold subbed in backup goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne to take over during penalties. The 33-year-old from the Australian league was in there for one reason and one reason only: Distract Peru with dance moves.
Australia: ❌ ✅ ✅
Peru: ✅ ✅ ❌📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/3Bq6r2QPwl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2022
And it worked! Redmayne flailed around the goal, shuffling and kicking out his legs just to throw off the focus of the Peru players. A miss on the Peru’s sixth attempt was enough to clinch Australia’s trip to the World Cup.
THE PK THAT SENDS AUSTRALIA TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇦🇺
Australia: ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅✅ ✅
Peru: ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅❌
📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/isPQ2Du8un
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2022
You have to feel so bad for Peru there. It’s the worst way to miss out on a World Cup by far, but the soccer world could not get enough of Redmayne. He stole the show.
