SYDNEY, Nov 16: Australia ended 32 years of heartbreaking defeats on Wednesday to beat Uruguay on penalties and qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Germany.

Striker John Aloisi scored the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer pulled off two brilliant saves to send the capacity crowd of 83,000 into wild celebrations.

Australia, who had suffered a series of agonising losses in their previous World Cup playoffs, won the shootout 4-2 after the home side won 1-0 after extra time for a aggregate 1-1 draw.

It was the first time that a penalty shootout victory has led directly to a place in the World Cup finals.

Uruguay, World Cup champions in 1930 and 1950, had won the first leg of the playoff 1-0 in Montevideo on Saturday but were outplayed by an Australian team who squared the tie at 1-1 with a first half goal from Marco Bresciano.

Neither side was able to score in regulation or extra time, forcing the match into the agony of the shootout.

Harry Kewell, Neill and Tony Vidmar all converted from the spot to give Australia a 3-1 lead after Schwarzer pulled off a one-handed save from Dario Rodriguez.

The crowd fell silent when Australian captain Mark Viduka pushed his shot wide but roared back into life as Schwarzer saved Marcelo Zalayeta’s attempt and Aloisi slammed the ball into the back of the net to end Australia’s long wait.

The Australians had began nervously in front of a sell-out crowd at the Olympic stadium and were lucky not to concede an early goal when the South Americans pushed forward in the hope of a quick kill.—Reuters