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