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1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)

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1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
(CONMEBOL–OFC play-off)
Event1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
Australia Argentina
Australia Argentina
1 2
(on aggregate)
First leg
Australia Argentina
1 1
Date31 October 1993
VenueFootball Stadium, Sydney
RefereeSándor Puhl (Hungary)
Attendance43,967
Second leg
Argentina Australia
1 0
Date17 November 1993
VenueMonumental, Buenos Aires
RefereePeter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
Attendance67,000

The 1994 FIFA World Cup OFC–CONMEBOL qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament and CONCACAF–OFC play-off winners, Australia, and the second-placed team from the CONMEBOL Group 1, Argentina.

Overview

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The games were played on 31 October and 17 November 1993 in Sydney and Buenos Aires respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974, and Argentina was hoping to qualify after reaching the FIFA World Cup Final three times in the previous four FIFA World Cups. The only time that Argentina failed to qualify for a FIFA World Cup was in 1970. This qualification play-off notably immediately followed Argentina's 5–0 defeat by Colombia at home in Buenos Aires on 5 September 1993. The crowd of 43,967 who watched the first leg played at the Sydney Football Stadium was at the time a stadium record crowd for any sporting event.[1]

The series were notable for being the first time Argentina had to play a qualification play-off match in their history. Moreover, the series saw the return of Diego Maradona to the national team after a long dispute with manager Alfio Basile.[2] Some years later, Maradona suggested that drug tests were deliberately avoided during the series, stating that "to play against Australia, the Association gave us a 'fast coffee'" to drink before the match.[3]

Background

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Argentina Round Australia
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Colombia 6 4 2 0 13 2 11 10
 Argentina 6 3 1 2 7 9 −2 7
 Paraguay 6 1 4 1 6 7 −1 6
 Peru 6 0 1 5 4 12 −8 1
Final standings
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Australia 4 4 0 0 13 2 11 8
 Tahiti 4 1 1 2 5 8 −3 3
 Solomon Islands 4 0 1 3 5 13 −8 1
Final round
(OFC) 		Opponent Result
1st leg  New Zealand (A) 1–0
2nd leg  New Zealand (H) 3–0
1st play-off Opponent Result
1st leg  Canada (A) 1–2
2nd leg  Canada (H) 2–1 (4–1 PSO)

Match details

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First leg

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1994 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff
First leg
Australia 1–1 Argentina
A. Vidmar 42' 37' Balbo
Attendance: 43,697
Australia
Argentina

Second leg

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Second leg
Argentina 1–0 Australia
Tobin 59' (o.g.) [note 1] Report
Attendance: 59,768
Argentina
Australia
Notes
  1. ^ Other sources attribute this goal as scored by Gabriel Batistuta

Broadcasting rights

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Argentina v Australia, 17 November 1993.
  1. ^ Allianz Stadium on Austadiums website
  2. ^ La única vez que Argentina jugó un repechaje by Germán Boero on Goal.com
  3. ^ "Para jugar con Australia te daban un café veloz", La Nación, 23 May 2011
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