2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off)
The 2002 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL–OFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the fifth-placed team from the South American qualifying tournament, Uruguay. The games were played on 20 November and 25 November 2001 in Melbourne and Montevideo respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Uruguay in 1990.
Background
| Uruguay |
Round |
Australia |
|
|
Final standings |
| Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
 Australia |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 66 | 12 |
 Fiji |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 4 | 23 | 9 |
 Tonga |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 30 | −23 | 6 |
 Samoa |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 3 |
 American Samoa |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 57 | −57 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Final round
(OFC) |
Opponent |
Result |
|
|
1st leg |
 New Zealand (A) |
2–0 |
|
|
2nd leg |
New Zealand (H) |
4–1 |
|
Play-off match
First leg
Second leg
|
OFFICIALS
- Assistant referees:
- Ahmed Yaqqob Mohamed (UAE)
- Ali Abdulla Makhlouf (UAE)
- Fourth official: Musallam Al Bloushi (UAE)
|
MATCH RULES
- 90 minutes
- 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary
- Penalty shoot-out if scores still level:
- 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted
|
Aftermath
Uruguay qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Korea and Japan, and were drawn into Group A with defending champions France, Denmark and debutants Senegal. After losing 2–1 to Denmark in their opening match, Uruguay drew France 0–0 and in the final match they also drew 3–3 to Senegal despite being 3–0 down, finishing third in the group on two points.
Australia played in the 2002 OFC Nations Cup qualified automatically. The Socceroos were drawn into a group with Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia and won 2–0, 11–0 and 8–0 respectively, and topped the group, proceeding to the semi-final stage. Against Tahiti, a goal from Damian Mori in extra time secured a 2–1 win and a place in the final against New Zealand. Australia lost 1–0 to New Zealand, leaving the side with the silver medal and New Zealand qualifying for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
References
