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SYDNEY - Australia qualified for the 2014 World Cup by beating Iraq 1-0 on Tuesday, with Josh Kennedy heading home the winner in the 83rd minute to reward a bold substitution by coach Holger Osieck. Osieck made the surprising decision to take off veteran Tim Cahill and replace him with Kennedy, and the decision paid dividends when Mark Bresciano chipped a cross into the box, where the tall striker took advantage of lax marking to head past Noor Sabri in the Iraq goal. The goal sparked euphoria among the sodden but exultant home crowd of 80,523, curing the heightening anxiety among fans as the minutes ticked by without Australia being able to find a way through Iraqs defence. A draw would have left Australia at the mercy of the outcome of the Jordan-Oman game later in the day, with a likely relegation to third place in the group and a further playoff round. Jordan beat Oman 1-0 to finish third in the group and book its place in the Asian zone playoff against Uzbekistan. Kennedys goal meant Australia qualified directly for its third straight World Cup. "Im proud of everybody," said captain Lucas Neill. "Its been a really tough campaign. Weve stuck at it, showed mental strength. "Sorry, it wasnt pretty. But weve beaten what was in front of us and pushed ourselves on to a very exciting tournament." The Socceroos won just one of their first six games in the final stage of Asian qualifying, putting their Brazil ambitions in jeopardy, but home wins over Jordan and Iraq delivered a place in Brazil for the veteran squad, which includes Bresciano, Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Cahill in the twilight of their careers. "The boys did really well in the final stage of the campaign, it was a great effort," said Osieck. "We really grew together as a team, we presented ourselves as a unit, and the reward today was that we could qualify for the World Cup." "It gave me a beautiful feeling and I must admit that Im proud to be part of this. "I know theres going to be a tough year ahead but tonight we have the right and privilege to enjoy our qualification." Australia started the game positively and had the first good scoring chance in the third minute with Cahill stinging the palms of Iraqi keeper Abbas Noors goal from 10 metres, after some clever build up play from winger Robbie Kruse. In the 15th minute Sasa Ognenovski spurned a good chance when he headed over the bar from fellow central defender Neills chipped cross. Cahill too had a good chance when Matt McKays cross from the left floated over the defence to the back post, and Cahills acrobatic effort to hook the ball over his left shoulder went just wide. Iraq, missing several of its best players, managed just one shot in the opening half which failed to test Schwarzer. The former Asian champions qualifying hopes ended last week in a defeat to already-qualified Japan in Doha, and they missed captain and striker Younis Mahmood and veteran midfielder organizer Nashat Akram, who didnt travel to Australia. The visitors started the second half brightly with midfielder Saif Salman forcing Schwarzer to dive to his left to stop his low drive from 25 metres. In the 57th minute, Bresciano shot narrowly over from just outside the box as the hosts looked to up the pressure on the Iraq backline. Australia named an unchanged lineup for the third successive game after an impressive 1-1 draw away to Japan and a 4-0 rout of Jordan in Melbourne last week. On the hour Australia coach Holger Oseick brought on Glasgow Celtics Tom Rogic for Brett Holman and the change almost paid immediate dividends with Rogic bursting into the box, but he miscued his shot. Australia put the ball in the net in the 65th minute, but Kruses volley from outside the box was disallowed by Iranian referee Faghani Alireza who saw a foul by Ognenovski in the lead up. Australia continued to press but couldnt find the breakthrough, prompting Osieck to substitute Cahill for Nagoya Grampus striker Kennedy. Cahill was less than impressed with the decision, storming past the German coach to take his place on the bench, but the substitution proved inspiring. "You have to understand that no player wants to come off but its my prerogative as a coach to substitute players," said Osieck "You can see that after the game he was one of the happiest players, he even sat on my shoulders. But hes a lightweight, if it had been (Sasa) Ognenovski it would have been a different matter." The hosts survived some nervous final minutes as Iraq pressed forward and created opportunities, but some last-ditch defending preserved the famous victory. Iraq coach Vladimir Petrovic paid credit to Australia and was pleased with the efforts of a largely second-string young team. "I want to say well done to Australia for qualifying for the World Cup," he said. "We have young players that proved today that they can do the job. The luck wasnt with us." Air Max Sale .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Air Max 96 Sale . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/nike-free-sale/ . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Air Max 2000 Sale . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Air Max 95 Sale . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Marcus Mariota did everything but sack Ryan Tannehill, leaving that task for his teammates with the Tennessee Titans.Mariota threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score, complementing a defense that sacked Tannehill six times to help Tennessee beat the reeling Miami Dolphins 30-17 Sunday.Mariota bounced back with a strong game after totaling three interceptions and no TD passes in losses the past two weeks. He went 20 for 29 for 163 yards with no interceptions and no sacks, and ran seven times for 60 yards.I saw some open lanes and just ran, he said.DeMarco Murray added 121 yards rushing for the Titans, who totaled 235 on the ground for their highest total since 2009, according to Pro Football Reference. They improved to 2-3, and Miami fell to 1-4.Tannehill and the Dolphins offense turned in another woeful performance aside from the occasional long gain. Rookie Jakeem Grant scored on a 74-yard punt return , Damien Williams had a 58-yard, catch-and-run to set up a touchdown, and DeVante Parker made a 50-yard reception that led to a field goal.But by the second quarter, the crowd was booing Tannehill. By the fourth, fans were chanting for his replacement, Matt Moore, who hasnt started a game since 2011.Do I like it? No, Tannehill said. But it doesnt affect how I play or how I think about myself.First-year coach Adam Gase stood firm by the fifth-year quarterback.Hes not coming out, Gase said. You can ask me 100 times. Hes going to be in there the rest of the season.But Gase acknowledged serious issues on offense.Were inept right now, Gase said. We cant get out of our own way.It didnt help that the Dolphins were without both starters on the left side of their offensive line, and the Titans took advantage while doubling their season sack total. Brian Orakpo had two sacks to increase his season total to six, and Derrick Morgan and Jurrell Casey added two apiece.The Titans Jason McCourty yanked a pass away from Parker for an interception to set up a field goal.Mariota directed touchdown drives of 61, 76, 75 yards and 66 yards.ddddddddddddHe scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on a 5-yard keeper , and threw for scores of 5 yards to Andre Johnson, 20 yards to Delanie Walker and 4 yards to former Dolphin Rishard Matthews.Miami, by contrast, totaled eight first downs. Tannehill finished 12 for 18 for 191 yards with two interceptions.GROUND GAMEMariota repeatedly hurt the Dolphins with his running. He scrambled 21 yards to set up the Titans third touchdown, and converted a third down with a 19-yard scramble in the fourth quarter when his team was nursing a seven-point lead.Hes a very dangerous guy back there, Murray said.The Dolphins poor run defense allowed Tennessee to control the ball for nearly 37 minutes.I can assure you guys are frustrated, Miami defensive end Cameron Wake said. Guys are disappointed. Frankly, I hope that everybody is mad and uncomfortable with this feeling, because with the kind of guys and kind of team we have, this should not be happening.STILL PERFECTJohnson improved to 8-0 against the Dolphins and scored his second touchdown of the year.FAST STARTThe Titans, who had been outscored 30-9 in the first quarter this year, scored a TD in the opening period for the first time.MIAMI BIG PLAYSThe Dolphins trailed in yards 195-26 late in the first half but were still in the game thanks to Grant. The rookie scored his first NFL touchdown by eluding five tacklers, including Kevin Byard after fielding the kick.The Titans fired special teams coach Bobby April on Monday, one day after they gave up a 67-yard punt return for a TD.WHATS NEXTThe Titans play Cleveland next Sunday in the first of three consecutive home games. The Dolphins continue a four-game homestand when they play Pittsburgh.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine ' ' '