|
 Cahill's 46th and 47th international goals, combined with a first
half effort from the excellent Aaron Mooy and scores after the break
from Tom Rogic and Massimo Luongo saw the Asian champions
comfortably secure top spot in Group B.
Jordan, who had inflicted the only defeat of the campaign on the
Socceroos, never looked like repeating the feat and were left
relying on other results to keep alive their slim hopes of
progressing as one of the four best runners-up.
Australia's victory sent Syria through with one of the runners-up
spots and they both joined Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, Thailand and
South Korea in securing places in the 12-team third qualifying
phase, from which four countries will earn tickets to Russia in
2018.
"It was good," said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou, whose side
also booked a spot at the 2019 Asian Cup.
 "Against a side everyone acknowledged was a tough opponent, we were
dominant from start to finish.
"We probably should have scored five or six more."
With Cahill restored to lead the line after missing last week's 7-0
thrashing of Tajikistan and Mooy and Robbie Kruse irresistible in
midfield, the match was as good as over as a contest by halftime.
Mooy and Kruse combined to give Cahill a simple tap-in to open the
scoring in the 24th minute and the trio were all involved again when
Mooy went through to double the lead with a fine finish 15 minutes
later.
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Just before halftime, Mooy found Kruse and the winger's cross
provided Cahill with all the invitation he needed to find the net
with a trademark leaping header from the middle of the penalty box.
The 25,000 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium had to wait for eight
minutes after the break until Rogic resumed the scoring and
substitute Luongo lashed home the fifth 20 minutes from time.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp kept up his urging from
the sidelines until the final whistle but only a string of saves
from Amer Shafi, one to deprive Cahill of a hat-trick, prevented the
scoreline from blowing out further.
Substitute striker Abadallah Deeb, though, restored a modicum of
pride for the Jordanians with a superb shot into the top corner in
the dying minutes.
"There was a gulf in class," said the 69-year-old Englishman.
"We stepped up a level tonight and it was difficult, they were
better than us." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Patrick
Johnston)
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