Australia remain on course to top Group B and progress to the third round of AFC qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a thumping 7-0 victory over Tajikistan at the Adelaide Oval.
The Socceroos completely dominated Tajikistan, ranked 150th in the world, with a performance that could have seen the score hit double digits had it not been for the woodwork.
Tom Rogic and Nathan Burns scored doubles, while Mile Jedinak, Mark Milligan and Massimo Luongo also got on the scoresheet.
Another positive for the Socceroos was the performance of Apostolos Giannou on debut. The striker did everything but score, setting up numerous opportunities for his team-mates as well as winning two penalties that were converted by Jedinak and Milligan respectively, and hitting the post.
The Socceroos' win puts them in the box seat to finish top of the qualifying section going into their final group fixture against Jordan in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Failure to win for Harry Redknapp's men, who thumped Bangladesh 8-0 to set up a top of the table showdown with the Socceroos, would see Australia progress automatically to the final qualifying stage and secure their place in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Australia made a blistering start to the match against Tajikistan when Luongo scored in the second minute with a well placed drive from the edge of the box that was beyond the reach of Alisher Tuychiev and into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
The Socceroos pressed relentlessly for the first 20 minutes before taking their foot off the gas slightly after Jedinak made it 2-0 from the spot after Giannou was brought down by the 'keeper.
The lively Giannou, who made a friendly appearance for his native Greece before switching allegiances, lifted well over the crossbar from a Leckie cutback as the Socceroos' pressure showed no sign of relenting, before Burns' effort suffered the same fate after he beat Tuychiev to a cross from the right.
