As the Qantas Socceroos head into their first match of the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, some of their rivals have already started their campaigns in earnest.
As the Qantas Socceroos head into their first match of the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, some of their rivals have already started their campaigns in earnest.
Iran pulled off the surprise result of Group A-s first round of matches, snatching a 1-0 away win against Uzbekistan.
The Uzbeks dominated the game from start to finish, as the hosts missed several clear-cut chances before Iran coach Carlos Queiroz-s substitute Mohammad Khalatbari breaking free to score the match-winner four minutes into stoppage time.
In Group A-s other game, Lebanon-s qualification undefeated home run ended with a close-run 1-0 loss to Qatar.
Emile Rustom-s underdogs have struggled to make a mark against stronger opponents, understandable given the team hadn-t played a single competitive international for more than a year prior to the Brazil 2014 qualifying campaign.
And despite hitting the crossbar in the first half, it was Qatari striker Andres Quintana who scored the game-s only goal, pouncing on a poor back pass in the 64th-minute to take Paulo Autuori-s side joint top with Iran.
Australia-s Group B rivals Japan got their campaign off to a flying start, routing Paul Le Guen-s Oman 3-0 in Saitama.
Star midfielder Keisuke Honda opening the scoring with a superb volley, before Ryoichi Maeda and Shinji Okazaki put the result to bed.
Elsewhere in Group B, Jordan held Iraq to a 1-1 draw in Amman, moving both nations into joint second place behind Japan.
Midfielder Nashat Akram put Iraq in front after just a quarter of an hour, with Ahmad Ibrahim grabbing an equaliser for the home side just before the break.
The Qantas Socceroos begin their final phase of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a clash against Oman in Muscat on Friday, 8 June.
Soon after, the Qantas Socceroos will host Japan in their first home fixture of the fourth stage of Asia-s FIFA World Cup qualification process on Tuesday, 12 June at Brisbane-s Suncorp Stadium. Kick off is at 8pm.