Australia beat Thais to advance in World Cup qualifying

Brett Holman headed home a late winner to send Australia into the next round of Asia’s World Cup qualifying on Tuesday, snatching a 1-0 victory that put Thailand out of contention for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

Holman popped up unmarked in the area in the 76th minute and nodded home a Brett Emerton cross from five metres to see off a Thai side that battled to stay in the competition but paid a heavy price for missed chances.

Australia struggled in the Bangkok heat but ended up winners of Group D with one match left to play, taking 12 points from five games, ahead of Saudi Arabia who meet Oman later on Tuesday.

Datsakorn Thonglao directed most of the Thai attacks, floating the ball out to the wings and pacy winger Suree Sukha, who could have scored twice.

Australia were without the injured Harry Kewell and lofty forward Joshua Kennedy proved largely ineffective, beaten several times in the air and kept at bay by the diminutive keeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool.

Kennedy had a chance in the 28th minute and almost put the visitors ahead, bending low and nodding an Emerton cross into the hands of Sinthaweechai.

Suree almost broke the deadlock for Thailand in the 35th minute, latching on to a perfect lofted ball from Datsakorn but blasting over the bar from six metres with only keeper Mark Schwarzer to beat. (Editing by Mark Meadows)