Sports News in Brief
Socceroos back
DOHA — Tim Cahill and Archie Thompson have put Australia's World Cup qualifying campaign back on track by scoring late in a richly-deserved 2-1 win over Iraq in Doha. It looked like being a painful night for the Socceroos at the Grand Hamad Stadium after Iraq substitute Ala'a Abdulzehra finished off a counter-attack by slotting home in the 72nd minute. However, with 10 minutes to go, man of the match Cahill climbed high from a Matt McKay corner to produce a trademark header to level the scores. With Oman doing Australia a favour by defeating Jordan 2-1, the Socceroos now sit in second place in their group on goal difference with four matches to play next year.
Senegal out
PARIS — Senegal has been disqualified from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after crowd trouble forced their qualifier with Ivory Coast to be abandoned, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) governing body says. The decision was taken at a CAF disciplinary meeting in Cairo after violence flared in Dakar on Saturday, with Ivory Coast players and fans pelted with stones, bottles and chairs, fires lit in the stands and firecrackers thrown. Further sanctions may be taken against the east African side, the CAF said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.
Brazil reigns
WROCLAW, Poland — Next World Cup hosts Brazil have breezed past reigning Asian champions Japan 4-0 in a friendly with two goals from Neymar and one each from Paulinho and Kaka. Corinthians midfielder Paulinho beat Japan's keeper Eiji Kawashima 12 minutes into the game with a low shot from 20 metres. Santos striker Neymar then struck in the 26th minute, blasting home a penalty awarded after Yasuyuki Konno took down Kaka in the box. He added another goal just after the break with a weak shot deflected into the net by the Japanese defence. This defeat leaves Japan dreaming of their first-ever victory over Brazil at full international level.
Match called off
WARSAW — Heavy rain in Warsaw forced the postponement of Poland's 2014 World Cup qualifier against England. With the pre-match deluge leaving the pitch waterlogged officials had no option but to call it off after a number of inspections. The game will now be played back at the Kazimierz Gorski Stadium early this morning. England manager Roy Hodgson said it was disappointing. "It's disappointing because we had prepared well for this evening not to say the Poles hadn't either," he told ITV. "I had no idea the conditions were as bad as this as I had been in my hotel room. "I guess it is up to the people who run the stadium as to whether to close the roof before the game. They will be feeling pretty sore, and also they will pay a price as I don't know how many fans will come back on a Wednesday afternoon to watch the game."