The Socceroos overcame Honduras and were indebted to their skipper for stepping up to the mark to clinch a fourth straight finals appearance
All eyes were on Australian talisman Tim Cahill at Stadium Australia, but it was his captain Mile Jedinak who provided the inspiration, and the goals, needed to secure the Socceroos’ World Cup qualification.
The midfield general scored a decisive dead-ball hat-trick from the dead ball to clinch a 3-1 victory over Honduras on Wednesday night to book Ante Postecoglu’s side’s place at next summer’s finals in Russia.
Jedinak broke the deadlock with a 54th minute free-kick in the 54th minute with the help of a huge deflection off Honduras substitute Henry Escobar.