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 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. Allianz Stadium on Austadiums website
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.La única vez que Argentina jugó un repechaje by Germán Boero on Goal.com 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."Para jugar con Australia te daban un café veloz", La Nación, 23 May 2011
Background ArgentinaRoundAustraliaTeam64201321110631279−27614167−166015412−81Final standingsTeam4400132118411258−334013513−81Final round (OFC)OpponentResult1st leg (A)1–02nd leg (H)3–01st play-offOpponentResult1st leg (A)1–22nd leg (H)2–1 (4–1 PSO)
Match details
First leg
GK 1 Mark BosnichDF 19 Tony Vidmar DF 13 Mehmet DurakovicDF 12 Milan Ivanovic DF 5 Alex TobinMF 4 Ned ZelicMF 8 Aurelio VidmarMF 6 Paul Wade (c)MF 11 Robbie Slater MF 10 Jason van BlerkFW 9 Graham ArnoldSubstitutes:FW 7 Dave Mitchell Manager: Eddie Thomson
GK 1 Sergio Goycoechea SW 2 Jorge Borelli DF 6 Sergio Vázquez DF 14 José Chamot DF 3 Carlos Mac Allister MF 15 Hugo Pérez MF 5 Fernando Redondo MF 8 José Basualdo MF 10 Diego Maradona (c) FW 18 Abel Balbo FW 9 Gabriel BatistutaSubstitutes: MF 17 Gustavo Zapata DF 13 Fernando Cáceres Manager: Alfio Basile
Second leg
GK 1 Sergio Goycoechea DF 14 José Chamot DF 2 Sergio Vázquez DF 6 Oscar Ruggeri DF 3 Carlos Mac Allister MF 5 Fernando Redondo MF 15 Hugo Pérez MF 8 Diego Simeone MF 10 Diego Maradona (c) FW 18 Abel Balbo FW 9 Gabriel BatistutaSubstitutes:MF20 Gustavo Zapata Manager: Alfio Basile
GK 20 Robert ZabicaDF 12 Milan Ivanovic DF 5 Alex TobinDF 19 Tony Vidmar DF 13 Mehmet Durakovic MF 11 Robbie SlaterMF 10 Jason Van BlerkMF 6 Paul Wade (c)MF 8 Aurelio Vidmar FW 7 Graham ArnoldFW 9 Frank FarinaSubstitutes:FW 17 Carl Veart Manager: Eddie Thomson
Notes
Broadcasting rights : SBS Argentina: Canal 9, NexTV! & TeleRed (Only first leg are broadcast live); Eltrece, Canal 30 & Nuevo Siglo Cable TV (Only second leg are broadcast live) United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports United States: ESPN (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
References