Jordan moved four points clear of Australia at the top of Group B of AFC World Cup qualifying after beating Tajikistan 3-0 on Wednesday (AEDT).

The Socceroos did not have a game and Jordan - which beat Australia five days ago - took full advantage with a home victory that did not come as easily as the scoreline may suggest.

The host had to wait until 65 minutes to find the breakthrough, but eventually clicked into top gear in the closing stages, with Hamza Al-Dardour (two) and Hassan Abdel Fattah - both of whom scored in the win over Australia - doing the damage.

Jordan has 13 points from five games, with Ange Postecoglou's side four points adrift with a game in hand. In the group's other game, Kyrgyzstan moved to within a point of second place with a 2-0 win over Bangladesh.

In Group C, Qatar continued its 100 per cent record by thrashing Maldives 4-0 thanks to a Boualem Khoukhi double - it has won five straight games in the group.

Oman moved top of Group D after Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali scored twice in a 3-0 win over India. Second-place Iran is a point behind with a game in hand having not had a qualifier on Wednesday (AEDT).

Syria continued its fine start to the campaign in Group E with a 5-2 thrashing of Afghanistan as Osama Omari scored a hat-trick. It sits two points clear of Japan, which has a game in hand, at the top.

Thailand won 3-0 at Vietnam to extend its lead on Iraq at the top of Group F, while Kuwait was held to a 0-0 draw at home to Lebanon in Group G, meaning it failed to draw level on points with Korea Republic at the top of the pile.

DPR Korea strengthened its position at the top of Group H, with Jong Il-gwan's early penalty proving decisive in a 1-0 home win over Yemen, which has now lost all five of its qualifiers.