The Socceroos have moved a step closer to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with an emphatic win over Jordan in Melbourne.
The game was marked by goals for a host of Australia's veterans, but also for those emerging as the next generation of Socceroos.
Darren Mara has this report.
Socceroos coach Holger Osieck asked his men to play positive football in this crucial World Cup qualifier - and that they did.
The scoreline ended four-nil in favour of Australia, with the Jordanians running out of answers early in the match.
The Socceroos dominated early possession, with Brett Holman and Robbie Kruse starting brightly down the right side.
It was a flanking run and cross from Kruse in for Mark Bresciano in the 16th minute which led to the opening goal.
The teams went into the half with the scoreline 1-0.
As the second half wore on, Holger Osieck brought on Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thomson in place of Tommy Oar in the 60th minute.
Within 60 seconds Thomson was involved in the lead-up play on the right for a ball out to Kruse, whose cross found Tim Cahill for an easy header from only metres out from goal.
The spaces began opening up for the Socceroos and more passes began to stick.
The second goal also took the sting out of the Jordanian attack, and ten minutes of pressure culminated in a well-deserved goal for Robbie Kruse, having his best-ever game for the Green and Gold.
Now three goals up, Holger Osieck took the chance to give Celtic youngster Tommy Rogic a run in place of Brett Holman with around 15 minutes to go.
Ten minutes later, Rogic got his head on the ball off a corner, sending it on to captain Lucas Neill, who was rewarded with his first-ever goal in 91 appearances for Australia.
Speaking after the match, Neill said the Socceroos' aim had been to score early to put the Jordanians on the back foot.
"It went to plan. It could have been two or three more and we knew that the gaps would open up in the second half and they would take some risks. We could have been better in possession today but I think overall we can be very pleased with the way we performed."
The win moves the Socceroos into outright second place in their qualifying group on 10 points, one ahead of Oman and four behind Japan, who have already qualified for the World Cup finals.
Australia faces Iraq next week in Sydney for their final, crucial qualifier.
A win will guarantee an automatic berth for the Socceroos in Brazil next year.
