Greatest Socceroos moments in Australia – Bresciano stuns Uruguay

As the Qantas Socceroos prepare to face Scotland in an international friendly, footballaustralia.com.au looks back at some of the great Socceroos moments on Australian soil. Today it’s Mark Bresciano’s goal against Uruguay in 2005.

As the Qantas Socceroos prepare to face Scotland in an international friendly, footballaustralia.com.au looks back at some of the great Socceroos moments on Australian soil. Today it-s Mark Bresciano-s goal against Uruguay in 2005.

The World Cup qualifier against the South Americans has gone down as one of the greatest moments in Australian sport, never mind in football - but Socceroos fans do feel a certain ownership of that game and the watershed mark for Australia on the international stage.

After losing 1-0 in Montevideo, the Socceroos knew that only victory would suffice in Sydney. It was an open game, with the Aussies going on the front foot from the outset

It was Uruguayan playmaker Alvaro Recoba who went closest first though, latching onto a through ball which he thankfully fired wide.

The game changed when then-Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink substituted Tony Popovic for Harry Kewell, with the forward have an immediate impact. With just over half an hour gone, the Socceroos worked the ball in well from the left wing and Mark Viduka-s flick opened the door for Kewell inside the area.

Kewell scuffed his shot but the ball fell kindly to Bresciano, who beat his marker to the ball to fire it into the roof of the net and send the capacity crowd at Stadium Australia into raptures.

Bresciano stood tall in the six-yard box, striking his trademark “Spartacus” celebration stand, until he was swamped by the green-and-gold of his teammates.

It wasn't the greatest goal ever scored, or the most skillful - but few have ever meant so much to Australian football fans.

The penalty drama that followed still gives you goose bumps - but it was Bresciano-s perfectly timed strike that put one foot in Germany 2006.

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