Australia took a giant step towards qualification for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil on Tuesday with a comfortable 4-0 win over Jordan in an Asian World Cup qualifier in Melbourne.
Mark Bresciano opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark with second-half efforts from Tim Cahill, the impressive Robbie Kruse and captain Lucas Neill securing victory for Australia, who now move second in Group B on 10 points, four behind already qualified Japan.
The Socceroos sit one point clear of Oman and can secure the group’s second automatic qualifying spot with victory in next week’s final qualifying match against Iraq.
Jordan remain fourth on seven points and have a significantly poorer goal difference to Australia but can still set up an Asian play-off encounter against either Uzbekistan or Iran if they can overcome Oman in their final game.