Second Leg: Drama at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The return leg took place on 29 November 1997 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with more than 80,000 Australian fans in attendance. The stakes were incredibly high, as the winner of this match would secure a place in the World Cup. The game began with hostility, as Australian fans whistled and booed during the Persian national anthem, setting the tone for an intense encounter.
Australia started the match aggressively, creating numerous scoring opportunities. In the 32nd minute, Harry Kewell once again found the net, this time assisted by Aurelio Vidmar. The Australians dominated the first half, with players like Mark Viduka, Stan Lazaridis, and Robbie Slater testing Iran’s defense. Despite their efforts, Iranian goalkeeper Ahmadreza Abedzadeh and defenders Mehdi Pashazadeh and Mohammad Khakpour held firm, preventing further goals. The half ended with Australia leading 1–0, a result that would have secured their qualification.
Early in the second half, Australia extended their lead to 2–0 through Aurelio Vidmar, assisted by Stan Lazaridis. At this point, Australia seemed certain to qualify, and Iranian hopes appeared all but extinguished. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the latter stages.