MELBOURNE: Australia improved its chances of qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup with a 4-0 win over Jordan and South Korea moved within a point of progressing for the eighth straight time after edging Uzbekistan 1-0 in Asian qualifiers yesterday.
Midfielder Robbie Kruse scored a goal and set up two others as Australia earned the vital win and moved into second spot in Group B with 10 points, four behind already-qualified Japan and one ahead of Oman.
Jordan has seven points, while Iraq had five ahead of its match with Japan later Tuesday.
South Korea leads Group A with 14 points, three clear of Uzbekistan, which conceded a first-half own goal by Akmal Shorakhmedov in Seoul.
The result means South Korea needs only one point from their last group match to secure a place at Brazil 2014. It was a deserved win for the host in a game played at a frantic pace. South Korea broke the deadlock just before halftime as Shorakhmedov headed a Kim Young-gwon cross firmly into his own net.
A win would have ensured Uzbekistan’s first appearance at the World Cup. Both leading teams are at home next week, with South Korea hosting Iran and Uzbekistan against Qatar. The top two from the group qualify automatically for Brazil. The third-place teams go into a playoff for an intercontinental qualifying series.
Japan ensured its spot at Brazil last week with a last-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at home against the Australians.
That left Australia needing wins at home against Jordan and Iraq to guarantee second spot in the group.
Midfielders Mark Bresciano scored in the 15th minute in Melbourne and Tim Cahill found the net in the 61st — both off Kruse passes. Kruse drove in a shot from close range in the 77th minute and captain Lucas Neill claimed his first-ever international goal shortly before fulltime.
Two-time World Cup veteran and former Serie A playmaker Bresciano scored the opening goal when he latched onto a lofted centering pass from Kruse to fire the ball past Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi.
“This is the time when it needs to click,” Bresciano said. “We know exactly what we’re playing for. We’ve got a must-win game next week in Sydney.”
Jordan was able to threaten at times, with Shadi Abu Hashhash and Adnan Suleiman particularly dangerous, but the Australian defense was equal to the task and Bayer Leverkusen forward Kruse was constantly making inroads in counterattack.
“It was a wonderful performance, but it means nothing if we don’t get the goal next week,” Kruse said.
