UPDATE 2-Soccer-Emerton leads Australia to 4-0 rout of Qatar

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By Andrew Stevens

BRISBANE, Australia, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton scored twice to help Australia thrash Qatar 4-0 on Wednesday and move to the top of their Asian World Cup qualifying group.

Emerton converted a penalty in the first half and scored midway through the second as the Socceroos completely overwhelmed a lacklustre Qatari outfit.

Australia's other goals came from Everton's Tim Cahill, who notched his 14th international goal in just 29 appearances, and the towering Josh Kennedy with a 76th minute header.

With Japan and Uzbekistan playing out a 1-1 draw in Saitama on Wednesday, Australia are two points clear at the top of Group One.

Japan and Qatar both have four points although the Middle East side has played one more match then the two leading contenders in the group.

The top two teams from both Asian groups qualify directly for the 2010 finals in South Africa, with the third placed teams to meet each other to determine who enters a play-off with Oceania champions New Zealand.

Australian coach Pim Verbeek said he could not ask for more.