Australia, S. Korea close on WCup berths
Source: Agencies |
June 12, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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AUSTRALIA'S chances of qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup look considerably brighter after a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Jordan in Asian qualifying yesterday in Melbourne.
Midfielder Robbie Kruse scored one goal and set up two others as Australia earned the vital win and second spot in Group B, four points behind already-qualified Japan and one ahead of Oman. Jordan has seven points, while Iraq has five. Iraq was scheduled to play Japan late yesterday.
Attacking midfielder Mark Bresciano scored in the first half and talismanic forward Tim Cahill found the net after the break - both off Kruse passes - while captain Lucas Neill claimed his first-ever international goal shortly before fulltime.
"It's fantastic to get four goals," Kruse said. "We could have got a couple more."
Australia must beat Iraq next Tuesday in Sydney to be assured of advancing directly to the 2014 World Cup, while a draw will leave it at the mercy of the Oman-Jordan match the same day.
The top two teams in each group qualify, and the third-place team advances to a playoff.
"Tonight we had an excellent performance," Australia coach Holger Osieck said. "It was a great team effort and I think our team showed great unity. The score was definitely what we needed ... a good margin, a good clean sheet."
South Korea edged Uzbekistan 1-0 on a first-half own goal by Akmal Shorakhmedov in Seoul. South Korea leads Group A with 14 points, three clear of Uzbekistan.
The result means South Korea needs only one point from its 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 team goes into a playoff.
In Melbourne, two-time World Cup veteran and former Serie A playmaker Bresciano scored the opening goal in the 15th minute when he latched onto a lofted centering pass from Kruse to fire the ball past Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi.
The Australians quickly grew in confidence, applying growing pressure in the Jordanian half, peppering the goal with shots and forcing some desperate defense.
"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 coach Adnan Hamad said Kruse exposed some defensive problems.
"There were some problems in defense on the right hand side," Hamad said via an interpreter. "This was because of the pressure. We'll be working on it for the next match against Oman."
Midfielder Robbie Kruse scored one goal and set up two others as Australia earned the vital win and second spot in Group B, four points behind already-qualified Japan and one ahead of Oman. Jordan has seven points, while Iraq has five. Iraq was scheduled to play Japan late yesterday.
Attacking midfielder Mark Bresciano scored in the first half and talismanic forward Tim Cahill found the net after the break - both off Kruse passes - while captain Lucas Neill claimed his first-ever international goal shortly before fulltime.
"It's fantastic to get four goals," Kruse said. "We could have got a couple more."
Australia must beat Iraq next Tuesday in Sydney to be assured of advancing directly to the 2014 World Cup, while a draw will leave it at the mercy of the Oman-Jordan match the same day.
The top two teams in each group qualify, and the third-place team advances to a playoff.
"Tonight we had an excellent performance," Australia coach Holger Osieck said. "It was a great team effort and I think our team showed great unity. The score was definitely what we needed ... a good margin, a good clean sheet."
South Korea edged Uzbekistan 1-0 on a first-half own goal by Akmal Shorakhmedov in Seoul. South Korea leads Group A with 14 points, three clear of Uzbekistan.
The result means South Korea needs only one point from its 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 team goes into a playoff.
In Melbourne, two-time World Cup veteran and former Serie A playmaker Bresciano scored the opening goal in the 15th minute when he latched onto a lofted centering pass from Kruse to fire the ball past Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi.
The Australians quickly grew in confidence, applying growing pressure in the Jordanian half, peppering the goal with shots and forcing some desperate defense.
"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 coach Adnan Hamad said Kruse exposed some defensive problems.
"There were some problems in defense on the right hand side," Hamad said via an interpreter. "This was because of the pressure. We'll be working on it for the next match against Oman."
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