Australia 4 - Jordan 0; Japan 1 - Iraq 0

Melbourne was the arena for the clash between visiting Jordan and locals Australia.  Australia were dominant in possession early.  Just before the quarter hour, Australia tested the goalkeeper.  Robbie Kruse laid a ball off into the path on an onrushing Brett Holman.  Jordan goalkeeper Amer Sabbah (pictured, black) made the initial save, but the rebound fell to Marc Bresciano.  Bresciano smashed his laser just outside the post.  One minute later, however, Australia got it right.  Off an advantage call, Kruse made it to the end line and raced into the box up the end line.  He made a simple pass to the six-yard box from where Bresciano made no mistake.  Australia were up 1-0.  The Socceroos were destroying the left flank of Jordan's defense, and another Kruse pass nearly made it 2-0, but Cahill could not contort his body quickly enough to get the redirection on frame.  Jordan starting gaining traction over the final twenty minutes of the first half, which Australia won 1-0.

Jordan showed some fight in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, but eventually Australia re-established supremacy.  On the hour mark, Kruse made a wonderful cross to Cahill for a powerfully headed finish and a two-goal margin.  Kruse with a sweet turn in the box as he nutmegged Mohamad Ali before slotted home for goal number three.  Archie Thompson was saved one-on-one by Sabbah.  A third header in the box on the same corner kick play lead to a historic fourth goal.  Australia captain Lucas Neill (pictured, yellow #2) finally scored his first international goal in more than ninety appearance as he put the Socceroos four goals to the good.  Australia win 4-0 and move within one victory of Brasil 2014.

Already-qualified Japan were able to rest some key players (Maya Yoshida, Atsuto Uchida, Keisuke Honda) in preparation for the upcoming 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup as they traveled to Doha, Qatar to face Iraq in a match that was pivotal in the race for second-place.  A loss for Iraq would see nominal hosts eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  In spite of the absences, Japan were the stronger side in this match.  One neat one-two-one exchange nearly provided an opener for the Samurai Blue, but Hiroshi Kiyotake's shot was deflected, giving Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri time to crawl to the side and stop the shot.  The first half ended scoreless.

Iraq looked more likely to score in the second period.  However, Alaa Abdul Zahra was booted from the match for his second yellow card in minute 84 after he bicycle kicked Mashiko Inoha in the face going for a glorious finish.  Iraq were down a man for the final push as they looked to remain alive in the competition.  Even down a man, Iraq had to push for the win.  Japan took advantage with a minute to go on a three-versus-two fast break.  Shinji Okazaki fed Yasuhito Endo, whose pass back to Okazaki forced Okazaki to slide, but Okazaki made contact and the ball rolled into the net as Sabri had already committed to Endo's run.  Japan win 1-0 and Iraq are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  This result also guarantees Australia, at worst, a spot in the fifth-place playoff in Asia.

Japan 17 pts IN
Australia 10 pts +4
Oman 9 pts -2
Jordan 7 pts -10
Iraq OUT

Goals
Australia
Mark Bresciano 15
Tim Cahill 61
Robbie Kruse 76
Lucas Neill 84

Japan
Shinji Okazaki 89

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en-au/match/78094/australia-vs-jordan/report?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/a-dominant-4-0-victory-helps-socceroos-down-jordan-and-move-one-step-closer-to-2014-brazil-world-cup/story-e6frf4l3-1226662099400#.UiAzs5Kkpw8
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-japan-sign-off-win-end-iraqs-world-165205995.html
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/June/11/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-iraq-0-japan-1/n232164/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AgqWtRSvM4 (Australia v. Jordan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFhziIP-kZg (Japan v. Iraq)