Agency :
Awer Mabil said his crucial sudden-death penalty for Australia against Peru was a thank you to the country that took his family in as he reflected on his journey from refugee camp to the World Cup.
The 26-year-old calmly scored the Socceroos’ sixth spot kick in Doha before watching goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne heroically save Peru’s final penalty to send Australia to a fifth straight World Cup.
Mabil sank to the ground in disbelief and later told Australian reporters it was his destiny to score.
“I knew I was going to score. It was the only way to say thank you to Australia on behalf of my family,” the winger said.
