Jordan 2 - Australia 1; Japan 1 - Iraq 0

Japan welcomed Iraq, the charges of their former coach Zico, to Saitama for Matchday Four of the AFC Fourth Round.  2011 AFC Asian Cup champion goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima won on his game in the first half, saving Ahmed Ibrahim's forceful header off a corner kick and then Ahmed Yaseen's middle-range effort on a semi-breakaway on a full stretch dive.  Sandwiched in between, Japan stole a goal when Shinji Okazaki flicked a volley off a high bounce to an unmarked Ryoichi Maeda from point-blank range.  Japan took the undeserved 1-0 lead into the break against the young Iraq team.

Keisuke Honda nearly had Japan's second goal, but his diving header off a floating cross was saved onto and off the post by Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri.  The rest of the half passed with little action.  Japan win 1-0.  Japan, with more than double the points of their nearest competitor, are clearly going to be booking a place at Brasil 2014.  They very well may pull it off by the end of Matchday Seven.

Australia made the short trip from their friendly in Lebanon to Amman to take on Jordan for the first time ever.  The home side were looking to jump off the bottom of the Group Two table with an upset of the Socceroos.  Jordan had shouts for a penalty when Tim Cahill handled a ball inside his penalty area when he was the outside man of a five-man wall, but Jordan were unluckily not given their reward.  Brett Holman nearly added to the injustice immediately thereafter, but his shot was blocked by Basem Othman.  The half ended with no scores.

In the second half, delayed justice was Jordan's.  Mile Jedinak come on to begin the second period for Australia, and his presence nearly paid immediate dividends, but he missed an unmarked header.  A shameful dive by Odai Alsaify (pictured, white) led to the penalty kick Jordan should have had in the first half, and the spot kick was pushed home for a 1-0 lead to Jordan.  Jedinak nearly equalized from almost thirty yards, but his effort struck the post and bounced all the way out of the penalty area untouched.  On a Jordan counterattack, Alsaify went up the left side of the box, broke down Lucas Neill, and drew out the goalkeeper before slotting to an onrushing Amer Deeb, who tapped home for a massive second goal.  A smooth backheel layoff by Alex Brosque allowed an onrushing Archie Thompson to surge into the Jordanian box and slot home to the far post to close the gap to 2-1.  Australia's last surge did not result in a second goal, however.  Jordan win 2-1 in the biggest victory in their country's history.

Japan 10 pts +10
Jordan 4 pts -5
Australia 2 pts -1
Iraq 2 pts -1
Oman 2 pts -3

Goals
Japan
Ryoichi Maeda 25

Jordan
Hasan Abdel-Fattah 50 PK
Amer Deeb 73

Australia

Archie Thompson 85

Match Reports:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/soccer-worldcup-japan-iraq-idINDEE88A09K20120911
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/soccer/story/Jordan-beats-Australia-21-in-WCup-qualifier-48386960

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JufHVAygA5I (Japan v. Iraq)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4CAzTQadog (Jordan v. Australia)