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

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

Event	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
Australia Argentina 1 2
Argentina won 2–1 on aggregate
First leg
Australia Argentina 1 1
Date	31 October 1993
Venue	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee	Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Attendance	43,967
Second leg
Argentina Australia 1 0
Date	17 November 1993
Venue	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Referee	Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)

The 1994 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL–OFC 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. 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 September 5, 1993.

The crowd of 43,967 who watched the first leg played at the Sydney Football Stadium still stands as the highest crowd at that venue for any sports event.

Background

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)

Play-off match

First leg

Australia  v  Argentina

31 October 1993 17:30

Australia	1–1	Argentina
Vidmar  42'		37' Balbo

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)

Second leg

Argentina  v  Australia

17 November 1993 21:15

Argentina	1–0	Australia
Tobin  59' (o.g.)[1]

Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires Referee: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)

Aftermath

Argentina qualified for the final tournament. During the First Round, Argentina were drawn with Nigeria, Bulgaria and Greece. They were eliminated during the Round of 16, after they lost 3–2 against Romania, and finished 10th in the competition, with 2 wins and 2 losses.

References