After 22 games, the gruelling Road to Russia had a triumphant ending for Ange Postecoglou's men in front of a jubilant crowd of almost 80,000 at ANZ Stadium.

But it took until the second half for the 3-1 clash to spark into life.

Jedinak took all three goals in Australia's second leg intercontinental playoff, and in the process wrote his name into Socceroos legend.

A deflected free kick (53') and two penalties (72', 85') booked Australia's place at Russia 2018.

A late consolation goal for Honduras by Alberth Elis in injury time (94') in fact provided little consolation for the visitors who went into the break 0-0 and still very much in the contest after an energetic start.

 

With the first leg in San Pedro Sula last Saturday ending 0-0, destiny was always in Australia's hands. And the omens were good - the Socceroos had lost only one World Cup qualifier on home soil since 1981.

After a nervy first half by the Green and Gold, Jedinak - who was in a race against time to even make the intercontinental playoffs due to injury - grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

Tom Rogic's mazy run earned a free kick on the edge of the box and Jedinak stepped up. The Aston Villa man let rip, the shot taking a wicked deflection off Henry Figueroa and totally wrong-footing goalkeeper Donis Escober.

Five minutes later Tim Cahill came agonisingly close to doubling the advantage, heading into the cross bar from 18 yards out.

Honduras' Bryan Acosta, who escaped a handful of yellows throughout the match, was eventually pinged for handball inside the box and again the Aussie skipper took reponsibility - Escober getting a glove to the low left penalty shot but unable to palm it away to safety.

And when substitute Robbie Kruse was brought down, Jedinak was even more decisive from the spot to seal the result.

With virtually the last kick of the ball, a corner by substitute Mario Martinez caused a scramble in the box and saw Elis deny Mat Ryan a clean sheet, in what was the only blip on a historic night for Australian football.