UPDATE 1-Soccer-Jordan stun Australia in World Cup qualifier

* Jordan stun Australia in Amman

* Passing was a disaster says coach Osieck

Sept 11 (Reuters) - Australia face a fight to reach the

World Cup after they slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat away to

Jordan on Tuesday, producing a pitiful performance which coach

Holger Osieck described as an enormous disappointment.

The atmosphere at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman was

electric after outsiders Jordan, thrashed 6-0 by Japan in June,

claimed an unlikely win thanks to second-half goals by Hassan

Abdel-Fattah Mahmoud and Amer Deeb.

Australia pulled a goal back through substitute Archie

Thompson late on but poor finishing and frantic defending

allowed Jordan to claim the memorable win.

Jordan are now in second place on four points in Group B and

in one of the pool's two automatic qualifying berths for a place

at the finals in Brazil in 2014.

Australia have two points from three matches and are level

with Iraq and Oman in the standings, eight points behind Asian

champions Japan.

"The disappointment is enormous," Australia coach Holger

Osieck told Fox Sports. "We had a very, very poor first half.

"We didn't get into the game, our passing was a disaster, we

never could get into our normal rhythm. We played a lot of long

balls and I don't know why that happened."

TRICKY TRIP

The Socceroos next face a tricky trip to Qatar to play 2007

Asian champions Iraq and will have to show far more fight and

creativity if they want to reach the finals in Brazil.

Towering Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski had to leave the

field after only 14 minutes with an injury, forcing Osieck into

an early reshuffle and Jordan's high-tempo game unsettled the

Australians without creating clear chances.

That changed in the 48th minute when Jordan forward Odai

Al-Saify skipped down the left and was felled in the penalty

area as he cut back inside Mile Jedinak.

Qatari Abdullah Balideh gave the penalty despite the

theatrics of Al-Saify who kissed and smacked the turf in delight

before Mahmoud slotted the spot-kick past goalkeeper Mark

Schwarzer.

Jordan retreated and allowed Australia to dictate play

before the home side produced a stunning counter to grab a

second.

Al-Saify led a breakout and skipped around Lucas Neill

before cutting the ball back for Deeb to fire in at the near

post in the 77th minute.

The Australians, who slumped to a 0-0 draw away to Oman in

their opening qualifier, were rattled and Jordan should have had

a third but Deeb clipped his shot just over the bar.

Jedinak smacked the post with a long-range drive as the

visitors struggled to find the creative spark required and

relied on hopeful balls into the area.

Substitute Thompson, who once scored 13 goals in a World Cup

qualifier against American Samoa, pulled one back for the

visitors with five minutes to go after he fired a right foot

shot past Shafia.

The goal set up a nervy finale with AFC Vice-president

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein amongst those home fans unable to

watch. But after Robbie Kruse wasted one good chance, Jordan

held firm and the world's 87th-ranked side claimed the unlikely

win.

"We can't afford many slip-ups now," Neill said of their bid

to reach a third consecutive finals. "We've got to pick the team

that will do the job in each game now.

"We've got to keep believing and stay positive. There's

plenty of points to play for. But if we perform like we did

tonight it's going to be difficult."