Goffin defeated Federico Delbonis 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-3 in the first singles match before Mayer used his big serve to come out on top against Darcis 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-3.
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With Murray heavily favoured to continue his decade-long unbeaten record against Australian challengers, and Britain’s second singles player ranked 300th in the world, the outcome of the indoor hardcourt tie hinged on the doubles.
The Murray brothers put Great Britain on the brink of emerging victorious against Australia and only one win away from making it to their first ever Davis Cup final in 37 years.
Murray’s only wobble came when he was broken as he served for the first set – but he responded to immediately claim his second break of the match and take the set.
“I started really well and didn’t manage to get the breaks at the beginning”, Murray said.
“I didn’t feel great the whole weekend to be honest, I’ve been struggling with my back, but I just tried to disguise it. We’ve got everyone here, mother, father, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunties and uncles”. My back has been giving me a lot of trouble this week.
The world number three was confirmed as his brother’s partner just before midday, although it was widely anticipated that original selection Dom Inglot would be sidelined after the first day of action, when Evans lost to Tomic after Andy Murray had raced to victory over Kokkinakis.
The Scottish brothers enjoyed home support in Glasgow but had to come from a set down to win, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4.
It would be an incredible achievement to win the Davis Cup but we have a long way to go.
“To be 2-1 up going into the final day is very good but we’ve been here before”, said GB captain Leon Smith.
Just as Argentine ironman David Nalbandian did in Australia’s last semi-final in Buenos Aires in 2006, Murray filled the local hero role with aplomb by also securing all three points for Britain.
Great Britain will now travel to Belgium for the final (27-29 November), looking to lift the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936. “But I think once you’ve played at that level it’s always there”.
And, after the match, Murray said that his back had turned out to be far more of a concern than the fatigue which playing three matches in as many days might entail.
Murray is expected to face Bernard Tomic at 13:00 BST, although Australia could yet change their line-up.
“Obviously Andy’s playing wonderful tennis”, said the 22-year-old. He had hit double the amount of unforced errors at this stage and almost half Murray’s number of winners, per Flashscore.com-the statistics accurately reflecting what was a one-sided match.
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When he was appointed Davis Cup team captain in April 2010, Britain were preparing for a relegation play-off which could have left them in Europe Group 3 with San Marino, Andorra, Armenia and Malta, among other such luminaries.
