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Brazil bound ... the Socceroos seal their spot in the 2014 World Cup. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
The Socceroos have secured their World Cup finals spot next year with the most nerve-jangling of 1-0 wins over Iraq at ANZ Stadium, thanks to substitute Josh Kennedy's header with seven minutes left.
Australia's hopes of direct qualification looked to be hanging by a thread until Kennedy headed home a Mark Bresciano cross to book the Socceroos a third successive World Cup finals berth.
For much of Tuesday night's match, the Socceroos' hopes of getting to Brazil seemed set to be decided either by the result of the Oman-Jordan match or by further playoffs as a draw beckoned.
The home side continued to be frustrated by a stoic Iraqi defence and their own lack of composure in attack.
Frustration levels among the 80,523 crowd rose even higher when the Socceroos had a goal disallowed in the second half, when Robbie Kruse's 65th minute volley was ruled out as Iranian referee Faghani Ali-Reza called a foul on Sasa Ognenovski from the preceding move.
But Kennedy - introduced into the match with 13 minutes left for Tim Cahill - saved the day for his nation.
On a pitch uneven in surface and made trickier by pre-match rain, the Socceroos had a difficult first half.
They created more chances but were frustrated by Iraq's solid defence, occasional feigned injury, and their own lack of a killer ball in the front third.
The Socceroos were also unable to easily break into counter-attack, with Iraq clearly having done their homework - applying extra pressure to Bresciano and lone striker Cahill.
The two best first half chances fell to Cahill - a third minute shot which forced goalkeeper Noor Sabri into an excellent reflex save and an acrobatic 35th minute effort after Sabri collided with a defender while trying to deal with a cross.
"I really don't know what to say - it's amazing," Kennedy told Fox Sports after the match.
Coach Holger Osieck couldn't contain his joy.
"I can't rank it,'' he said when asked where he'd place it on the list of his accolades.
"Tonight it's the best.
"I think this one is very special for me for a number of reasons.
"First of all I like to work for Australian football and I like to work with these boys.
"Over the years we have really established a very good relationship.
"Hopefully after today's victory I get at least another year."
Captain Lucas Neill admitted the performance wasn't great, but it was a case of mission accomplished.
"I'm proud of everybody. It's been a really tough campaign. We've stuck at it, showed mental strength," Neill said.
"Sorry, it wasn't pretty. But we've beaten what was in front of us and pushed ourselves on to a very exciting tournament."
[View the story "Socceroos v Iraq, ANZ Stadium, Sydney" on Storify]
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