Qatar World Cup 2022 qualifier: Peru vs Australia – Live

• Winner of this all-important clash to qualify for World Cup 2022.
• Australia aiming to reach a fifth consecutive World Cup.
• Peru won the last, and the only, meeting between the two sides – at Russia 2018.
• Kick-off is 9pm Doha time (18:00 GMT).

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2022 World Cup qualifier between Peru and Australia.

I’m Eshlin Vedan and I will bring you all the latest updates from this all-important clash together with my colleagues Usaid Siddiqui, Faras Ghani and Showkat Shafi who are at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.

51 Mins ‘Nerve wrecking’- Peruvian praises Australia performance

Usaid speaks to Peru fan Anna Sonia Venatea who is “very nervous” as the Australians are defending “very well”.

“They know better… since the Peruvians are very quick with the ball,” the 51-year-old, who came with her family from Dubai for the game, said.

“It’s been so nerve-wrecking in the first half. There are so many Peruvians here all hoping the team wins. The Australians are so organised … if we lose I’ll be pretty depressed for a while.”

Austalia 0-0 Peru 45 Mins

We are back underway

One of the two teams could be 45 minutes away from securing a place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this November.

Australia 0-0 Peru

9 mins ago (19:07 GMT) It was a disciplined first half

Atkinson of Australia was the only player to see yellow for a wild challenge on Cueva. Neither side can afford a red-card in this vital game.

Australia 0-0 Peru

13 mins ago (19:03 GMT) Australian fan hopes “for the best”

Socceroos fan Charles Webb says it’s hard to tell who will win and is hoping for “the best”.

“Its a knockout game. Anything can happen. Both teams will give their best,” the 63-year-old, who lives in Qatar’s capital Doha, said.He added it feels like a “home game for the Peruvians”, pointing at the large number of fans from the South American nation.“Win or lose, I am here for a good time. At least we made it this far. Italy is not even at the World Cup!”

Australia 0-0 Peru 

18 mins ago (18:59 GMT) No shots on target so far for either side

The game has been a physical one so far. From the Australian attackers, Boyle and Mooy are the only two who have threatened the Peru defence. Apart from that, the South Americans have effectively dealt with the threat of the opposition.

Peru have only had two shots with none on target. They will be hoping to improve upon this in the second half. Despite having 48% ball possession compared to Peru’s 52%, the Aussies have had six shots with none on target.

Australia will have to contain Advincula’s pace which will be vital to the Peruvian cause in the second half.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

45+1 Mins It’s square at half-time.

It’s even and was an entertaining opening 45 minutes. Both teams had their fair share of half-chances but will need to be more clinical in the final third during the second half.

41 Mins Cooling technology doing its job

It really doesn’t feel like 32C (90F) inside the stadium… well, unless you’re one of the 22 players doing all the running around in the middle.The organisers started installing the cooling technology when the World Cup was still scheduled for June and July. It will still be used in November and December and by the looks of things tonight, it will come in handy. – Faras Ghani at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Boyle once again shows some strong attacking movement, finding Irvine with a cross but the latter sends his headed effort wide. He wasted a good chance and he knows it.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

36 Mins Australia are content to sit back

Peru are playing from the back while Australia are sitting back. From all the Australian players, Martin Boyle looks the best so far as Gonzales comes out while he probes forward. Peru coach Gareca will be the more frustrated of the two tacticians as his side have not yet created any clear cut chances despite looking more composed on the ball.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

31 Mins ‘Tonight we have to win’

Our man Usaid seems to be in a jolly mood with all the music and lovely football on show. Here’s an update from him:

“Oh Peruvians come on! Tonight we have to win.”

Thousands of Peruvian fans shout and sing loudly as they cheer their team on. The chants can be heard across the stadium from the ‘Ticos’ supporters every time their players touch the ball.

A collective groan when a scoring opportunity went abegging.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

25 Mins Peru look confident on the ball

Peru are finding their groove. Cueva went down in the penalty area following a duel with Irvine. The ref waves play on. Duke fouls Peña to give Peru a free-kick.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

21 Mins It’s even steven

Neither side is particularly dominating at this point. Both have created chances. As things stand, it looks like it will be a low scoring game with little margin for error. One moment of brilliance could be deciding factor.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

16 Mins

Australia fans are “here for fun”

“We are keeping our fingers crossed [that Australia wins],”  Andrew Lee, a fan from Australia, said.“I don’t rate our chances but we have hope. Win or lose we are just here for some fun.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s key playmaker Mooy whips in a corner which Irvine who scored against the UAE meets with his head. He can’t direct his shot on target.

Australia 0-0 Peru

11 Mins Yellow!

Birthday boy Nathaniel Atkinson gets the first yellow of the evening for a wild challenge. Peru fail to make the most from the free-kick chance.

Australia 0-0 Peru

6 Mins A sea of red and white

The top tier is completely empty. The middle tier half empty. But the bottom tier, especially, across and behind the dugouts is literally a sea of red and white! Such is the support for Peru here at the stadium tonight in Qatar.

I’ll be surprised their own players are able to hear each other among the drums and trumpets – Faras Ghani at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Australia 0-0 Peru

1 Min We are underway!

The game starts as Lapadula gets the ball rolling for Peru.

Australia 0-0 Peru 

1 hour ago (17:58 GMT) Get ready for action

We are nearly underway. For one nation, today will mark World Cup qualification. For the other, it will be heartbreak.

Only one can go to the World Cup ????

It all comes down to this.

Watch @Socceroos ???????? v @SeleccionPeru ???????? for FREE on FIFA+ ⤵️*In selected regions, check your local listings

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 13, 2022

1 hour ago (17:53 GMT) Kick off approaching

It’s five minutes before kick-off in this all-important, do-or-die, whatever you want to call it, game. Peru fans heavily outnumbering Australian fans. They are the ones making all the noise! A few yellow shirts darted around.. I can only imagine the noise levels if Peru score first – Faras Ghani at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

2 hours ago (17:43 GMT) Peruvians from US ‘confident’ about victory

Usaid has been speaking to some Peruvians fans who have travelled from the US: Noe Castilla from Washington, DC says he is “confident” Peru will beat Australia to qualify for the World Cup.

“We have come all the way here for Peru. We our football crazy in our country. It’s a passion,” said Castilla, who arrived in Qatar with his two friends from DC after a nearly 24-hour flight.

“If we win, we will come back for sure.”

2 hours ago (17:42 GMT) Aussie soccer greats send their well wishes

Sam Kerr and Tim Cahill, arguably the two greatest Australian soccer players in modern history have sent in their well wishes.

Good luck boys @Socceroos ???????? give it all you’ve got. We are all behind you!

— Sam Kerr (@samkerr1) June 13, 2022

A chance to create history again tonight for Australia. Best of luck to all the players and staff ???????? Road to Qatar 2022 pic.twitter.com/tIs9P9mSnC

— Tim Cahill AO (@Tim_Cahill) June 13, 2022

2 hours ago (17:31 GMT) Australia coach Arnold has a good record in penalties

Should the game end in a draw after extra time, penalties are on the cards.

Interestingly, Australia coach Graham Arnold was present at both of the Socceroos competitive shoot-outs.

He was assistant coach to Guus Hiddink when Australia overcame Uruguay on penalties to reach the 2006 World Cup. He was also in charge when Australia beat Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Round of 16.

2 hours ago (17:19 GMT) Australia opt for the tried and tested

The Socceroos have made just one change from their side that beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 and it’s a surprise one as Mitchell Duke has come in to replace Craig Goodwin.

Meanwhile, the Aussie Prime Minister has sent his well wishes to the Socceroos.

Good luck to @matyryan and the @socceroos as they take on Peru for a spot in the World Cup early tomorrow morning. All of Australia will be #AllForTheSocceroos

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 13, 2022

2 hours ago (17:07 GMT) 88-year in Qatar to cheer for Peru

Our man Usaid Siddiqui has been speaking to an 88-year-old Peru fan who happens to be at the stadium for tonight’s match. Here’s what he gathered:

Bianca Revva, an 88-year-old from Lima, Peru, is at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium and “praying for victory” for the national team.

“I am very excited and really happy to be here. It is so great to see many Peruvians here in Doha. When I see the national team I think I will cry a lot.”

Huge Peru support here at the stadium with an hour until kick-off. A handful of Australian supporters trying to make their presence felt.

2 hours ago (16:54 GMT) It’s getting warmed up (literally)

The stadium has cooling technology installed so we’re feeling the cool breeze around us (and so will the players) but outside temperature is around 33C (92F) – Faras Ghani at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

3 hours ago (16:45 GMT) Lineups

Australia: Ryan, Atkinson, Boyle, Leckie, Wright, Hrustic, Mooy, Duke, Behich, Rowles, Irvine

Peru: Gallese, Advincula, Zambrano, Callens, Trauco, Tapia, Peña, Gonzales, Carrillo, Cueva, Lapadula

3 hours ago (16:43 GMT) All aboard the Qatar Express (almost)

We’re at the home straight: 30 out of the 32 teams have qualified for Qatar 2022, and it’s down to the last four who will battle it out for the two remaining slots at the World Cup that starts November 21.

Last call for #Qatar2022. Who will take the final two spots?

???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/fDBhKvw2MU

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 12, 2022

3 hours ago (16:33 GMT) Public holiday in Peru

A public holiday has been announced by the Peruvian government on Monday, anticipating that much of the country will be keenly following the game that kicks off at 1pm Peru time.

I’m guessing a few will call in sick tomorrow if Peru does make it to the World Cup.

3 hours ago (16:23 GMT) ‘Match of our lives’

Australia are not at the level they used to be, and this gives Peru an advantage, concedes Australian football legend Mark Schwarzer.

“We are up against it and I think we are underdogs. It’s going to be one hell of a battle but we are not kicking ourselves. We are not at the levels we used to be,” Schwarzer told Optus Sport.

Peru’s captain Pedro Gallese has termed this the “match of our lives” as his team goes into this game having been the winners the only time the two sides met previously – a 2-0 win at Russia 2018.

Read our match preview here.