As Mathew Leckie and his Socceroos teammates painted Doha in inexperienced and gold, the Melbourne evening sky was as soon as once more lit in purple.
With the Socceroos creating historical past after their epic victory over Denmark to pressure their manner into the World Cup spherical of 16, Melbourne once more confirmed its ardour for soccer with jubilant, heaving scenes at Federation Sq. within the earliest hours of the morning.
Followers packed themselves into the dwell website for what may have been Australia’s remaining efficiency in Qatar, needing a victory to make sure their place within the subsequent stage of the match.
A draw would have been adequate, too, had Tunisia misplaced to France, however with the French resting a lot of their star gamers after already locking up their spot within the spherical of 16, nothing was sure.
The stress mounted by way of the group within the first half, as Denmark appeared like the higher crew all through, hitting the Australian defence laborious as they appeared to assert the three factors that will doubtless see them progress by way of the match.
Nonetheless, Harry Souttar and his band of merry males stood agency all through, preserving the rating at 0-0 heading into the break.
However because the second half obtained underway, the murmurs rippled throughout the group as telephones lit up with notifications informing them that Tunisia, in opposition to all odds, had scored.
Solely a return of fireside would see Australia survive.
And Leckie already had his ammo within the chamber.
Streaking down the sphere, earlier than twisting and turning and deftly putting the ball previous the Danish goalkeeper, the Socceroos gamers ignited in celebration.
Again in Melbourne, the now ever-familiar flares illuminated the group and rapture inside.
“SHOW US FED SQUARE,” Sports activities Minister Annika Wells tweeted after Leckie weaved his manner by way of the Denmark defence.
It was a scene often saved for the football-mad Europeans or South People.
A fireplace burning brilliant, ignited by the left foot of a person born and bred within the western suburbs of Melbourne.
“Vigorous right here,” got here the understated tweet from Melbourne creator Tony Wilson.
The Victorian lots hugged their love ones, hugged their household, their pals, and strangers because the hope in Doha travelled all the best way throughout the Indian Ocean, throughout the Nullarbor, and deep into the hearts of sport followers.
It was a stark distinction to scenes on the MCG only a week and a half in the past, when Australia’s ODI cricket conflict with England was attended by simply 10,400 individuals.
As the group calmed down, the quiet nerves constructed once more, with one eye on Tunisia and France, and the opposite on Australia and Denmark because the Danes peppered the Aussie defence repeatedly.
One purpose from the lads in purple was all it was going to take to shatter Australian desires.
As full-time drew ever nearer, that nervous anticipation constructed, like a jack-in-the-box that ticked over to a gradual tune of Males At Work’s Down Underneath, able to explode in a cavalcade of cheers and tears.
After which it occurred. The ultimate whistle blew.
The gang was illuminated first by the white gentle of cell phones held within the air to seize the second endlessly, then inundated by that thick air of cordite pouring out of the flares.
Australia had received.
And Melbourne had earned the fitting to host no less than yet one more occasion, this time in opposition to Argentina, this time at a extra palatable time on a Sunday morning, without having to fret about work later within the day, and no want to fret concerning the sleep misplaced from the evening earlier than.
As soon as once more Fed Sq. might be blanketed in inexperienced, and gold, and purple, and smoke.
And the anticipation for all of it was completely summed up by broadcaster Julian Marcus.
“We’re gonna want an even bigger Fed Sq..”