Once Harry Kewell had given them a fifth-minute lead at Khalifa Stadium, there was no looking back as AFC Asian Player of the Year Sasa Ognenovski doubled the advantage just after the half-hour mark before David Carney put the semi-final contest beyond Uzbekistan's reach midway through the second period.

Brett Emerton, Carl Valeri and Robbie Kruse then added further goals after Ulugbek Bakaev had been sent-off as Australia won at a canter.

FK.UZ, a popular Central Asian website, declared: ‘0-6!! No comment…!’

Another portal, the UFF.UZ drew comparisons with minnows India’s performance in the tournament when the Bhangra Boys lost heavily, with a scathing ‘0-6! Where are you, India?’ hea

dline. Futbol Express said it was a ‘Kangaroo knockout’.

www.championat.uz said Vadim Abramov’s men would now fight for the bronze against Korea Republic, who lost to Japan in a penalty shootout in the other semi-final, while sport-express.ru published a public apology from the crestfallen coach.