Ben Smith: Aziz Behich joins ranks of World Cup qualification heroes with miracle Perth goal against Japan
John Aloisi in 2005. Josh Kennedy in 2013. Mile Jedinak in 2017. Andrew Redmayne in 2022. Now add Aziz Behich in 2025.
Sydney in 2005. Doha in 2009. Sydney again in 2013, and once more in 2017. Al Rayyan in 2022. Now add Perth in 2025.
All week, the talk was about whether Perth would get its green and golden moment, whether Tony Popovic's team would move to the absolute edge of qualification.
Australian soccer fans know the story all too well; the sport in this country never does anything the easy way.
The equation was win and almost definitely in, so naturally the Socceroos, and their fans with them, were dragged kicking and screaming towards a win.
The 90 minutes against Japan at Optus Stadium on Thursday night simultaneously flew by and yet, also felt excruciatingly drawn out for the home side.
But in the end, it was all worth it.
Aziz Behich, the Melbourne City left-back, a man who has the made that role his — at times default, but certainly due to his own hard work and endeavour — scored a goal which will live long in the hearts of not just the more than 57,000 people who crammed into Optus Stadium, but everyone who stayed up into the late hours of the night on the eastern seaboard.
Behich flipped the script in the final minute; there were more negatives than positives about the Socceroos' performance, as they were dominated by an under-strength Japan.
But no one cares about the journey when the destination (in this case, North America) is oh so sweet.
For a nation built on sporting moments, Behich's goal may have felt like the Socceroos' Steven Bradbury moment, Japan left bemused as their dominance ending in nothing.
In 20 years time, when people remember the Socceroos' trip to Perth to play Japan, they will not remember the stale performance by the hosts.
They will not remember Milos Degenek's dogged determination in defence, nor Popovic's questionable tactics when Australia had the ball.
They might remember the way an under-strength Japan dominated and cut through Australia time and time again.
You know what they will remember?
Aziz Behich unmarked, altering his run, wheeling around like a full-forward playing on from 50m, and dispatching the ball with vigour and violence, around the Japanese defence, and into the back of the net.
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