Australia claim win to book their place in Brazil

Australia left it late but beat Iraq 1-0 to become the second country to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in front of 80,000 rain-soaked but euphoric fans at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

Six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, Kennedy rose alone in the centre of the penalty box to head Mark Bresciano's cross past the despairing dive of Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri and into the net.

The stadium erupted and Kennedy was mobbed by his team mates as they celebrated the goal that looked like it would secure the win they needed to seal second place in Asian qualifying Group B and the ticket to Brazil that went with it. The Australians, frustrated for much of the evening by their own lack of penetration as much as the Iraqis, will now make their third successive trip to football’s showpiece tournament and a fourth in total after 1974, 2006 and 2010.


Source : Eurosports

World Cup Qualify AFC - Australia 4 Jordan 0

Former Premier League stars Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill got on the scoresheet as Australia enjoyed a routine 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Jordan.

Bayer Leverkusen-bound Fortuna Dusseldorf winger Robbie Kruse set up midfielder Mark Bresciano and New York Red Bulls' Cahill for goals in each half before scoring his own in the 76th minute, with captain Neill putting the icing on the cake six minutes from time at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium.

The win put Australia into second place in Asia's Group B on 10 points, with a victory over Iraq in their final qualifier in Sydney next week certain to seal the group's second direct berth to Brazil. Japan have already qualified in top spot.

Jordan, on seven points, are likely to need a home victory over third-placed Oman in their final qualifier and for other results to go their way to keep their hopes of a maiden World Cup appearance alive.

Source : Eurosport