AFC 2014 World Cup qualifying: South Korea, Australia solidify their spots

Australia routed Jordan, 4-0, overnight in World Cup qualifying at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium. Nine of the 14 players who featured for the Socceroos have spent part of at least one season in the A-League, including four currently employed in Australia’s top flight.

Lucas Neill (Sydney FC) and Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory) started and played all 90 minutes for the Socceroos while Archie Thompson (Victory) and Dario Vidošić (Adelaide United) were second-half substitutes. A-League alumni included starters Saša Ognenovski (Queensland Roar, Adelaide), Robbie Kruse (Brisbane Roar, Victory), Tommy Oar (Brisbane) and Matt McKay (Brisbane) with Tom Rogić (Central Coast Mariners) coming off the bench.

Someone give Akmal a hug.

South Korea made things hard on itself by getting into a situation where the team needed a win over Uzbekistan to feel comfortable going into the final day, but they grabbed three points to move themselves clear at the top of Group A. Their winner came at the end of the first half on a comically bad own goal by Akmal Shorakhmedov. After Uzbekistan cleared a corner kick away, South Korea sent the ball back into the box. With no red shirts around him, Shorakhmedov should have had a simple clearance, but instead powered a header past his own goalkeeper as if he was aiming to score.

While Iran is still in some trouble -- they have to go away to South Korea on the final day, where it would be surprising to see them get any points -- they’re up into second place in Group B after this dominant performance, while Lebanon has been eliminated from qualifying. Iran is one point behind South Korea and two ahead of Uzbekistan with four more goals than the Uzbeks, so a draw in South Korea should see Iran qualify for the World Cup directly.

These sides are surprisingly currently tied on points in group B, both collecting seven points from their opening six games. Australia currently occupy the third-place playoff spot by virtue of their better goal differential, though a win for Jordan would see them leapfrog the Socceroos.

There’s an equally intriguing game in group A, as the two sides tied at the top of the table go face to face in Seoul. South Korea currently sit in first place, though collecting only one win from their last four games has seen them come under pressure from Uzbekistan, who are on course to make their first-ever World Cup finals.