Australia scrambled into the last stage of Asia’s 2014 World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday, as North Korea stunned Japan in a spiteful game loaded with political tension. Iran thumped Indonesia 4-1 to move within sight of the next round and China kept alive their flickering hopes of reaching the tournament in Brazil with a big win over Singapore. In Bangkok, Brett Holman’s second-half header was enough to give Australia a scrappy win and take them through with 12 points from five games, joining already qualified Japan, Jordan and Uzbekistan. But it was far from the majestic procession earlier promised by Australia, who won their first three games — including a last-gasp home victory over Thailand — but came badly unstuck with Friday’s 0-1 shock against Oman. A near-capacity crowd at Supachalasai National Stadium, used instead of the normal Rajamangala venue which is occupied by refugees from Bangkok’s crippling floods, provided vocal support as Thailand shaded the first half.
