Guardian Australia has whittled down hundreds of reader nominations and tapped into our best sporting minds to compile this shortlist of 50 of the greatest Australian sporting moments.
This shortlist of 50 moments was whittled down from hundreds of reader nominations and compiled by a brains trust of Guardian Australia’s best sporting minds. After the votes are tallied, the top 10 will be revealed next Monday – when the final round of voting will open.
John Aloisi scores the winning penalty to send Australia to the World Cup - 2005
It had been 32 years without a World Cup appearance. Loss after loss at the final qualifying hurdle: Argentina, Iran, Uruguay and the rest. But in the end, the Socceroos delivered the ultimate salvation, in front of almost 85,000 people at Homebush, at the end of a rematch against Uruguay, overcoming a first-leg deficit. Extra-time and penalties left each fan there – and millions watching at home – on edge. In the end, it was John Aloisi who scored the winning spot-kick, tearing off his shirt and wheeling away in riotous celebration to mark the milestone.