- Monday 16 November is 10 years to the famous night when the Socceroos qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 32 years;
- A special 10th Anniversary Gala Event will be held on the sacred pitch at Stadium Australia to commemorate the achievement;
- Upwards of 800 people will enjoy the sold out black-tie dinner under a giant marquee on the hallowed turf of Stadium Australia;
- Legendary manager Guus Hiddink and star Socceroos will be part of the evening;
- The Gala Event will double as a farewell for highly-respected FFA Chairman, Mr Frank Lowy.
Arthur Stanley
IT was the night that changed Australian football forever.
The moment when John Aloisi slammed home the decisive penalty in the shootout against Uruguay to break a 32-year World Cup qualification drought for the Socceroos.
It remains one of the most iconic sporting moments at Stadium Australia, Sydney’s Olympic stadium, and the image of Aloisi streaking down the sideline has been etched into Australian sporting folklore.
On Monday 16 November, legendary manager Guus Hiddink and a galaxy of Socceroos stars from the Golden Generation, will meet again on the pitch of Stadium Australia, this time to mark the 10-year anniversary of the historic event.
Names like John Aloisi, Brett Emerton, Mark Viduka, Mark Bresciano and Mark Schwarzer will step out onto the historic arena in celebration once again.
The sold out black-tie gala event, which will feature upwards of 800 guests dining under a giant marquee on the sacred pitch, will double as a farewell for departing FFA Chairman, Mr Frank Lowy, as well as long-standing FFA board members Brian Schwartz and Phillip Wolanski.
Where were you on the night John Aloisi made that unforgettable bare-chested celebratory sprint down the eastern sideline of Stadium Australia?
After losing the first leg in Montevideo 1-0, the Socceroos turned the tables on Uruguay, winning 1-0 in Sydney thanks to a first-half goal by Mark Bresciano, and then prevailed 4-2 in a heart-stopping penalty shootout in front of 83,000 fans.
Consecutive World Cup appearances have followed for the Socceroos.
To mark the occassion, the documentary November 16 will take you behind the amazing night like you’ve never seen it before. Check out the teaser below then watch the full thing air on Fox Sports at 9pm on Monday 16 November.
Now it’s time to stop and remember that glorious evening of 16 November 2005.
