Only days after their 4-1 rout against Kuwait, Australia produced another superb display to beat Oman 4-0 and progress into the Asian Cup quarter-finals.
Australia dispatched Oman with ruthless efficiency in Sydney, making it eight goals in two games. A team which managed just a single victory in 11 matches last year has caught fire at the Asian Cup and they put Oman to the sword boosted by two goals in three first-half minutes.
Matt McKay poking in from close range in the 27th minute before Robbie Kruse added a superb second with Australia's next attack.
Latching onto a clever flick from Massimo Luongo, Kruse trapped the ball on his thigh before clinically sweeping past Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Mark Milligan, in for injured skipper Mile Jedinak, smashed home a penalty in first-half injury time and substitute Tomi Juric made it four with the pick of the bunch with a sharp finish after 70 minutes.
South Korea, World Cup semi-finalists in 2002 but seeking to end 55 years of hurt in Asia's showcase competition, laboured to a 1-0 win over Kuwait to join Australia in the last eight.
The Koreans advanced courtesy of a Nam Tae-Hee header in the 36th minute, but news that midfielder Lee Chung-Yong will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering a fractured tibia cast a shadow over their win against Kuwait in Canberra.
Right-back Kim Chang-Soo also failed to recover from a knock in time, while German Stielike also has illness concerns with several of his players floored by a fever, including superstar Son Heung-Min.
South Korea, who won the first two Asian Cups in 1956 and 1960, have their work cut out to end that mystifying drought with Australia flying and defending champions Japan impressing in their opening game.
