DOHA, June 14 (Reuters) - Australia clinched a place in the final round of Asia's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they defeated Qatar 3-1 on Saturday.

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton gave the visitors

the lead on 17 minutes and doubled the advantage 11 minutes

after the break. Skipper Harry Kewell added a third in the 74th

minute before Khalfan Ibrahim got a late consolation goal.

The defeat means Qatar's chance of progressing into the

final round hinge on their final must-win group match against

second placed Iraq in Dubai on June 22.

Iraq, who defeated China 2-1 earlier on Saturday, and are

level with Qatar on seven points after five matches, while

Australia top group one with 10. However Iraq have a superior

goal difference to their Middle Eastern rivals.

Australia, who came into the match reeling after their

surprise loss to Iraq last week, had goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer

to thank for maintaining the early lead. The Fulham player saved

well from Wesam Rizki, Sebastian Soria and Fabio Cesar.

Despite conceding early, the Qataris dominated most of the

first half, but having failed to capitalise were effectively

killed off by the Emerton's second goal before a defensive error

cost them the third.

'We are disappointed with the result, more so with the

scoreline,' Qatar's Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati told

reporters.

'Australia are a big team and you can't afford to make

mistakes against them. Three goals show how strong they are.

Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek was pleased his players

had relieved themselves of the pressure of qualification before

their last group match against China next week.

'It was a tough game. We had to win it so that we can play

the last match relaxed. The first 25 minutes we played quite

well and also scored a good goal,' Verbeek said.

'In the next 20 minutes we were a bit shaky, but our

goalkeeper came good. In the second half we played really well.

'It was a bit disappointing to concede a last-minute goal,

but the important thing is that we qualified for the next

round.'