The Socceroos have qualified for a fifth-straight World Cup after penalty shootout win over Peru in their intercontinental play-off in Qatar.
Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the humble hero, making the winning save as Australia won the shootout 5-4 after the match finished 0-0 after extra-time.
"I'm no hero. I just played my role like everyone else did tonight," the A-League veteran said after the match.
"Not even the 11 on the pitch, it was much more than that, it is a team effort.
"I can't thank the team enough, the staff enough. You know, I'm not going to take credit. The boys ran out 120 minutes, and it not only takes 11 on the field but the boys on the bench, the boys in the stands."
Mathew Ryan was the man to make way for Redmayne after putting in a stellar performance to keep Peru off the board after 120 minutes.
"I'm sure Matty would have been disappointed, but everyone played their part," Mitchell Duke said.
"I can't explain this feeling, it is just complete ecstasy, and I can't wait to celebrate with the boys. Thank you for believing in us. We are going to a World Cup, five in a row!"
Coach Graham Arnold had been under pressure heading into the match after some underwhelming performances in the lead-up, and paid tribute to the players for their efforts under trying conditions.
"So proud of the players, you know?" Arnold said.
"No one knows what those boys have been through to get to here. It was so hard, the whole campaign, and the way they've stuck at it and committed themselves to it, incredible."
After 120 goalless minutes, Aaron Mooy, Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jamie Maclaren and Awer Mabil all scored from the spot to make up for Martin Boyle's miss, before Redmayne denied Peru's Alex Valera to spark joyous celebrations at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
The victory is also a triumph for Arnold, who will now lead the country to a World Cup finals after fighting to save his job when he missed out on automatic qualification in March.
His decision to bring on Redmayne in place of Ryan just before fulltime will go down as a master-stroke with the Sydney FC goalkeeper joining Mark Schwarzer and John Aloisi as a World Cup penalty shootout hero.
"Look, Andrew Redmayne is a very good penalty saver," Arnold said.
"And to try to get into the mind … to add that little bit of uncertainty in their brains. That's the reason why."
The dramatic finish came after a goalless 120 minutes, with Peru going closest to breaking the deadlock when substitute Edison Flores hit the post with a header in the second period of extra-time.
Earlier, Australia made the early running in a stadium dominated by Peruvian fans, with Duke flashing a couple of early efforts past the goal while Scottish-born winger Boyle was dangerous out on the right.
The first shot on target for either team came via Hrustic in the 81st minute but his long-range free kick was easily claimed by Peru captain Pedro Gallese.
Four minutes later, Aziz Behich just failed to bend a skidding effort on target after the left-back picked up a loose ball and beat two Peruvians before having a shot from outside the box.
Hrustic nearly stole the win for Australia in the 88th minute when he was found by substitute Mabil's cutback but Gallese just managed to keep the midfielder's shot from squirming in.
Flores had Peru's first shot on target in the game in the first period of extra-time before his header hit the post.
Arnold then turned to Redmayne moments before the final whistle, in a decision which will now go down in Australian sporting folklore.
"The doubters don't bother me. It's these boys that I care for," Arnold said.
"I called out Anthony Albanese the other day, to give everyone, give the fans a day off to celebrate this because I believe this is one of the greatest achievements ever, to qualify for this World Cup the way we've had to go through things.
"Twenty World Cup qualifiers and we've played 16 away from home. It's been tough but we did it."
Which group is Australia in for the 2022 Qatar World Cup?
Australia has secured its spot Group D, and while it's arguably not a group of death, it won't be an easy run.
Australia will now face Denmark, France and Tunisia at November's World Cup in Qatar.
France is ranked 3rd in the world, Denmark is ranked 11th, and Tunisia is 35th. Australia is ranked 42nd.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica/New Zealand (4am Wednesday kick-off)
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Look back at how the match unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Samantha L
Looking ahead
This November, Australia will face two of the same opponents they played at the 2018 World Cup in Russia: reigning world champions France and Denmark, with the third nation in their group being Tunisia.
Graham Arnold and his coaching staff have five months to try and bottle what the Socceroos demonstrated in this game and fine-tune it (ideally with the addition of a few fresh players, particularly in the attacking line, who can add some extra spark) so that we can take the game to these big nations in the same way we brought the game to Peru today.
The South Americans were undoubtedly the favourites heading into this play-off. They were ranked 21 in the world and on a dream run. But the Socceroos stood firm for most of the match and frustrated the Peruvians, who struggled to create many major chances.
The final 15 minutes of regular-time, and the entire 30-minute period of extra-time, was all about simply not giving up. You feel like it wasn't just Peru that Australia needed to prove a point to, but also their own fans, many of whom had already written them off before the opening whistle had blown.
This is a truly galvanising moment for this Socceroos group, who have shown not just the country but also themselves what they're capable of when there is no other option.
What a match. What a moment. What a team.
Thank you so much for following along with ABC's live coverage of Australia's intercontinental play-off match.
I've been your shaking, squealing host, Samantha Lewis.
WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP, BABY! SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER!!!
By Samantha L
Redmayne on the interview
"Bit lost for words. I can't thank the team, the staff enough.
"I'm not going to take credit because the boys ran out for 120 minutes. It not only takes the 11 on the field, but the boys on the bench, the boys in the stands, the boys who missed out on this squad as well. It's a team effort; it's a team game."
And on the whole penalty substitution:
"This idea was floated pre-selection, that this might eventuate in these circumstances. For the two or three weeks we've been here, I've had that in my mind and have been working on a few things in training. At the end of the day, it's a flip of a coin. It's either right or left.
"I'm no hero. I just played my role like everyone else did tonight."
The Sydney FC man is modest. But he's already a cult hero, especially for the long-suffering Socceroos fans on Twitter.
By Samantha L
Aussie DNA
Mark Milligan and Luke Wilkshere, two veterans of the Socceroos, have gathered themselves on the Channel 10 couch.
"We kept our best performance til last," Milligan says.
"We were brave. We were on the front foot."
"Full credit to Arnie," Wilkshere says. "It's a massive call to take your captain, Maty Ryan, off. That's a massive call."
By Samantha L
Here's the moment Australia qualified for Qatar
Andrew Redmayne. You big, beautiful, ridiculous legend.
By Samantha L
ABC's Tony Armstrong is at the live-site in Melbourne as Socceroos fans continue celebrating the win
SCENES
By Samantha L
Arnold says he called the Australian Prime Minister and asked for today to be a national holiday
"I called out Anthony Albanese the other day to give the fans the day off to celebrate this. Because I believe this is one of the greatest achievements ever - to qualify for this World Cup. 20 qualifiers, 16 away from home. It's been tough, but we did it."
He then dedicates this moment to his brother, Colin, who's been alongside Graham since the start of his football career.
What a moment for the former Socceroo, who's now led his nation to a fifth consecutive tournament.
By Samantha L
Arnold can barely speak in the interview. He's shaking his head in disbelief.
"I'm so proud of the players. Really, no one knows what these boys have been through to get to here. It was so hard. The whole campaign. The way they've stuck at it - the way they've committed themselves to it. Incredible."
By Samantha L
Emotional scenes from the Socceroos players and staff
The past year has been an absolute rollercoaster for this group. Mark Milligan is on the broadcast trying to hold back tears. Mitch Duke has his hands on his head as he readies himself for the post-match interview.
"I've never been involved in this situation before," he says.
"So many people wrote us off. I was going to have a f***ing panic attack. I'm speechless."
By Samantha L
THE SOCCEROOS WIN THE PENALTY SHOOT-OUT 5-4
Andrew Redmayne, the substitute goalkeeper on just his third appearance from his country, is the saviour.
Graham Arnold bursts into tears.
The fans in the stands in Doha erupt.
Peru's players are heartbroken.
Australia are through to a fifth consecutive men's World Cup.
By Samantha L
Mabil scores for Aus!
He's pumped after those mind-tricks
Australia: 0 1 1 1 1 1
Peru: 1 1 0 1 1
Australia are one save away from the World Cup
By Samantha L
It's sudden death now
Gallese gets a long sip of water, trying to psych out Awer Mabil who's standing over the ball
By Samantha L
Flores scores for Peru
Nice and calm, sending Redmayne the wrong way
Australia: 0 1 1 1 1
Peru: 1 1 0 1 1
By Samantha L
Maclaren scores for Aus!!!
The City man slots into the bottom left corner.
Australia: 0 1 1 1
Peru: 1 1 0 1
If Redmayne saves this next penalty, the Socceroos are through...
By Samantha L
Tapia scores for Peru
Redmayne got a hand to it but it's hit too hard and into the net.
Australia: 0 1 1 1
Peru: 1 1 0 1
