Even with captain Makoto Hasebe suspended and inspirational Keisuke Honda rested the Blue Samurai, who have already secured their place at Brazil, dominated.

They had to wait until the final minute, however, to net the winner when Shinji Okazaki rolled the ball into an empty net.

The result means the Socceroos will face a Iraq side with nothing to play for but national pride when the two teams clash next week in Sydney.

Australia have climbed to second in Group B with a 4-0 win over Jordan and are guranteed to take the remaining automatic qualifying spot if they defeat the out of contention side.

Meanwhile Jordan's hopes of progressing automatically have ended and the best they can now hope for is to earn a play-off spot with a win over Oman in Amman next week.

In a battle for Group A supremacy in Seoul, South Korea put themselves in pole position with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan - although they were given a helping hand by Uzbek defender Akmal Shorakhmedov.

The full-back's first-half own goal proved decisive when he jumped to clear Kim Young-Gwon's cross in the 44th minute ahead of Lee Keun-Ho and inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.

On a damp day in the South Korean capital, the home side started well and should have taken the lead midway through the half through Lee, who missed when well placed, but Uzbekistan offered a threat of their own and will feel they could have taken something from the game.

A win would have given the Uzbeks a guaranteed spot at the finals, and they sparked into life after weathering the early pressure, as Ulug Bakaev had two excellent chances well saved.

The game's only goal came just before the break as Shorakhmedov put into his own net.

Uzbekistan felt there was a handball and a foul in the build up but when a right-wing cross came into the penalty area, the full-back mistimed his header, which flew past his helpless goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.

It marked the first goal that Uzbekistan had conceded since last October, and could prove a costly one to their hopes of making further progress.

Victory means that South Korea now only need a draw from their final game against Iran, who are also in good shape after a 4-0 thumping of Lebanon.

The outcome was never in doubt for the hosts at a packed Azadi Stadium from the point that Mohammad Khalatbari broke the deadlock six minutes before the break.

Captain Javad Nekonam then took centre stage - the former Osasuna midfielder making it two just prior to the interval and grabbing his second four minutes from time.

In between, Reza Ghoochannejhad fired home to get his name on the scoresheet as Iran cruised to second place in the group.