Josh Kennedy scored just six minutes after coming onto the field to give the Socceroos the lead before Harry Kewell converted from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to seal a win that maintains Australia’s unbeaten run in the final phase of qualifying.

As a result, the Australians will become the first nation to qualify for the World Cup finals - alongside hosts South Africa - if Qatar and Bahrain draw in the later game in the group.

Asian Player of the year Server Djeparov started for the Uzbeks after shaking off the aftereffects of the injury he suffered against Qatar on Saturday but there was no place in Australia’s starting lineup for Everton midfielder Tim Cahill.

Scott McDonald could have given the Socceroos the lead as early as the third minute only for his weak shot to cause Ignatiy Nestrov very few problems, while at the other end Farhod Tadgiev was put through on goal by Djeparov, only for Saturday’s hat-trick hero to pull his shot across goal.

But the best opening of the first half fell to Mark Bresciano 15 minutes into the game when the Palermo midfielder looked set to the be the chief beneficiary of an error from the Uzbek defence that presented the ball to McDonald.

The Celtic striker slipped the ball through to Bresciano, but rather than finding the back of the net the shot nestled into Nestrov’s midriff.

After a cagey first half, there was a brighter start to the second half, with Harry Kewell seeing his shot blocked by Anvar Gafurov before the Uzbeks raced to the other end only for Tadgiev to push his shot from the edge of the penalty area wide of Mark Schwarzer’s goal.

In the 60th minute McDonald made way for Kennedy and just six minutes later the Australians were in front when Kennedy was left unmarked in the penalty area and the Karlsruhr striker steered Bresciano’s cross beyond Nesterov with a perfect header.

Barely five minutes later Richard Garcia was bundled over in the penalty area by Hayrulla Karimov and referee Ali Al Badawi pointed to the spot. Kewell stepped up and struck, left footed, to give Nestrov little chance.

The Australians have now amassed 13 points from five games and are two points ahead of nearest challengers Japan at the summit.