JAPAN stayed on course to book their spot at next year’s World Cup finals as they beat the UAE 2-0 on Thursday, while Iran recorded a 1-0 win over Qatar.
Here is a wrap of the other AFC World Cup qualifying results as Australia’s hopes hang in the balance …
JAPAN TOP UAE, SAUDIS WIN TO OPEN UP GAP ON AUS
Yuya Kubo and Yasuyuki Konno scored a goal in each half for Japan as the four-times Asian champions remained locked on 13 points with Saudi Arabia in Group B of Asia’s qualifying tournament after Bert van Marwijk’s team recorded a 3-0 win over Thailand in Bangkok.
EQUATION: Roos state of play to qualify after latest WCQ stumble
The two countries moved three points clear at the top of the standings, with Australia dropping into third as a result of their 1-1 draw with Iraq in Tehran. The third placed team in each of Asia’s two qualifying groups goes into a playoff.
IRQ v AUS: Match Highlights3:57
Football: Football: Highlights from the WCQ between IRQ v AUS.
Saudi Arabia secured a comfortable win in Bangkok as the Gulf nation continued their march towards their first appearance at the World Cup since 2006, with striker Mohammad Al Sahlawi on target to register his 15th goal in all phases of qualifying so far.
GROUP A TAKING SHAPE, SYRIA SCORE HISTORIC LATE WIN
Iran, meanwhile, strengthened their grip on top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over Qatar that moves Carlos Queiroz’s team four points clear of second placed South Korea and a further point ahead of Uzbekistan in third.
Mehdi Taremi scored the only goal of the game for the Iranians as Qatar’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup before hosting of 2022 tournament appears to be fading fast as they dropped to the bottom of the standings. Syria had an injury time penalty from Omar Khrbin to thank for keeping their hopes of a first-ever World Cup finals appearance alive as they secured a surprise 1-0 win over Uzbekistan.
Despite being forced to play their home games in neutral Malaysia due to security issues in Syria, the country’s national team is just two points behind South Korea, who sit in the second of Group A’s two automatic qualifying spots for Russia 2018.
The Koreans slipped up against China when Marcello Lippi’s team scored their first win of the current phase of the campaign by virtue of Yu Dabao’s goal, with the victory taking the Chinese onto five points to maintain their slim chances of qualifying for next year’s finals.
Reuters IMC
Originally published as How the Socceroos’ WCQ rivals fared
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