Jedinak revels in 'very special' qualifying campaign after hat-trick sends Australia to 2018 World Cup

Captain led by exmaple with three second half goals as Australia defeated Honduras to to book their place in Russia.

Tim Cahill, left, and Mile Jedinak celebrate after Australia book their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Matt King / Getty Images

Australia manager Ange Postecoglou and Mile Jedinak embrace after the final whistel. Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

Australian players celebrate their first goal against Honduras. Daniel Munoz / AP Photo

Australia forward Robbie Kruse is fouled by Johnny Palacios of Honduras for a penalty. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Australia players celebrate victory at full-time. Matt King / Getty Images

Australia players celebrate victory. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Australia celebrate reaching the 2018 World Cup. Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

Mile Jedinak celebrates scoring against Honduras. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Tim Cahill is all smiles after Australia reach the 2018 World Cup. Matt King / Getty Images

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Australia vs Honduras - ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia - November 15, 2017 Honduras’ Johnny Palacios fouls Australia’s Robbie Kruse for a penalty REUTERS/David Gray

Captain Mile Jedinak led the way with a second-half hat-trick as Australia brushed aside Honduras 3-1 in the second leg of their inter-confederation play-off to secure a place at next year's World Cup finals in Russia on Wednesday.

The midfielder scored from a deflected free kick and two penalties to give Australia a comfortable aggregate victory and send the Asian champions to the finals for the fourth straight tournament.

Honduras, who had been held to a 0-0 draw in the home leg last week, had been bidding for a third successive World Cup appearance but offered little in attack until Alberth Elis's stoppage-time goal earned the visitors some scant consolation.

____________________________________

Read more:

• Talking points from final World Cup qualifiers: Mena region boosts 2026 bid hopes, Eriksen races to Russia

• Ian Hawkey: Italy's World Cup 'Apocalypse' caused by decade-long decline and Ventura's ill-fated reign

• 'Espionage': Honduras accuse Australia of using drone ahead of World Cup play-off showdown

____________________________________

"It's a bit hard to describe, it's unreal," Jedinak said in a post-match interview. "We knew it was always going to be a difficult qualifying campaign but this makes it very, very special.

"It's been a tough two-and-a-half years to get to this point but we did it. We're very grateful we're going to another World Cup."

It was the 22nd match of Australia's qualifying campaign and it remains to be seen if manager Ange Postecoglou will lead the squad to Russia after he was reported in local media to be contemplating stepping down.

It seems unlikely he will make his future clear on Wednesday and spoil a party which got underway with a fireworks display over Sydney harbour as soon as the final whistle sounded.

As in San Pedro Sula last Friday, Australia had the better of a forgettable first half without being able to forge a breakthrough.

Tim Cahill, who missed that match with an ankle injury, started as a lone striker but his teammates were unable to present him with any clear-cut chances to notch up his 51st international goal.

The 37-year-old turned provider in the 37th minute when he combined with Aziz Behich on the left flank to carve out an opportunity for Tom Rogic, only for the Celtic midfielder to direct his shot straight at goalkeeper Donis Escober.

That aside, Aaron Mooy's set-piece deliveries provided Australia's main threat but Honduras, while offering little in attack, survived reasonably comfortably until the break.

The nervous wait for an opening goal ended seven minutes into the second half when Rogic finally put together one of his trademark mazy runs and was brought down on the edge of the penalty box.

Jedinak stepped up to fire his free kick wide of the wall and into the midriff of substitute defender Henry Figueroa, with the resulting deflection sending the ball back past the diving Escober into the net.

The second goal did came in the 72nd minute when Mooy's low cross from the left grazed the hand and foot of Bryan Acosta inside the area and Jedinak's powerful spot kick to the left proved too strong for Escobar's outstretched fingers.

Honduras were finally forced to chase the game but Australia pulled further clear when Jedinak put his second penalty into the opposite corner after Robbie Kruse had been brought down by Johnny Palacios five minutes from time.

Elis completed the scoring when he prodded home from close range following a goal-mouth scramble from a Honduras corner