Australians woke Sunday to the news from Doha that a 3-1 over Qatar had got them through to the final phase of the World Cup qualifiers from Asia. ( dpa )
Australia got to the second round in the World Cup in Germany in 2006, their first finals appearance in 1974.
Brett Emerton scored twice before Harry Kewell made it three up. Ibrahim Khalfan pulled back the goal difference to 3- 1 in the 90th minute.
Australia's win puts it on top of its group with 10 points leaving Iraq and Qatar, both on seven, to vie for the second spot in Dubai on June 22.
China, the other team in the group, went down 2-1 to Iraq in Tianjin and is out of World Cup contention.
Australian trio Mark Schwarzer, David Carney and Luke Wilkshire will be unavailable for Austalia's dead-rubber game against China in Sydney next week after getting their second yellow cards.