The visit of a team like Argentina is always a special moment for Australian football fans, especially when there is a spot in the World Cup finals at stake.
The visit of a team like Argentina is always a special moment for Australian football fans, especially when there is a spot in the World Cup finals at stake.
After another triumphant but long Oceania qualification campaign, the Socceroos faced the South Americans in a two-legged playoff for the final spot at USA -94.
More than 43,000 packed into Sydney Football Stadium - many of them Argentina supporters - for the game against one of world football-s great teams, with Australia understandably the underdogs against an Albiceleste side that boasted the likes of Maradona, Redondo and Batistuta.
But the game lived up to the hype, as the Socceroos matched their more-fancied opponents every step of the way.
No one was surprised when Argentina drew first blood 37 minutes in, as Maradona delivered a perfect cross for Abel Balbo to head just inside the post.
But the Socceroos refused to cave and stunned the visitors just before half-time. Ned Zelic spotted Tony Vidmar-s run, who crossed into the six-yard box for Aurelio Vidmar to tap home the equaliser.
The Socceroos fans erupted as Vidmar whirled away in celebration, with his magnificent mullet flowing in the wind.
The Socceroos pushed Argentina all the way in the second leg in Buenos Aries but were once again left rueing a late mistake as an Alex Tobin own goal gave the South Americans a narrow victory and a place in the 1994 World Cup finals.
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