Asian World Cup qualifying results, Tuesday
• Australia 1-1 Japan
• Iraq 4-0 Thailand
• Uzbekistan 2-0 China
• Iran 1-0 South Korea
• Qatar 1-0 Syria
• Saudi Arabia 3-0 UAE
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• Saudi Arabia v UAE: Match report
Round-up
Qatar v Syria
Qatar earned their first points in Group A, edging Syria in Doha.
The Syrians had earlier shocked China and had a chance to go level on points with South Korea for third in the group, but could not find a way past the Qatari defence.
The hosts went found the margin from Hasan Al Haydos’ penalty on 37 minutes.
Iran v South Korea
In a meeting of Group A’s top two sides in Tehran, Iran took control of their World Cup qualification course with a 1-0 win on Tuesday.
The hosts’ Sardar Azmoun, a 21-year-old forward with Russia’s Leicester City-esque side FK Rostov, scored the affair’s lone goal on 25 minutes. Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min saw yellow on 42 minutes, but little else of note occurred for the frustrated Koreans.
The result surprisingly leaves Uzbekistan, after four of the final Asian qualification stage’s 10 matches, in second and on course to reach Russia 2018. Iran top the group with 10 points, followed by the Uzbeks on nine and South Korea now on seven. Syria, on four, could go level with them if they defeat Qatar in Group A’s late match.
Uzbekistan v China
Uzbekistan continue to seriously threaten for a place at the 2018 World Cup, as they provisionally went top of Group A on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over China.
It was the Uzbeks’ third win in four of the 10 matches at the final qualification stage for Asia. The top two from each group advance automatically, with third place qualifying for a further series of play-offs.
Iran and South Korea play later. With both on seven points, a draw would leave Uzbekistan on top of the group.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan broke a goalless deadlock early in the second half on Marat Bikmajev’s strike. On 85 minutes, 20-year-old substitute Otabek Shukurov sealed the result with another goal.
Iraq v Thailand
Mohannad Abdulraheem dominated the affair, scoring all four goals as Iraq took their first three points of the final qualifying stage with a 4-0 win over Thailand.
Abdulraheem opened his account just seven minutes into the contest, and on 25 minutes doubled his tally.
Thailand defender Korawit Namwiset was shown red on 69 minutes and Abdulraheem, a 23-year-old forward for leading Algerian side JS Kabylie, again doubled the lead with goals on 87 minutes and four minutes into added time.
Iraq, “hosting” the match in Iran, are now fifth in Group B, three points behind the UAE, who later play Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
Australia v Japan
Australia manager Ange Postecoglou criticised his team for “wasting” the first half of their 1-1 draw with Japan in Melbourne on Tuesday which slowed the home side’s progress to the World Cup finals in Russia.
Australia were on the back foot early when a mistake in midfield led to Genki Haraguchi’s fifth-minute goal and were lucky the same player gave away a second-half penalty at Docklands stadium.
Captain Mile Jedinak’s spot-kick salvaged a point and the Socceroos finished strongly but it was of little consolation to their manager and much of the crowd of 48,000.
“Overall, you kind of think we wasted that 45 minutes of the game,” a deflated Postecoglou told reporters.
“We were very poor in the first half. A very poor start.
“We didn’t show enough intent in the 45 minutes to score.
“From our perspective, we were just very, very static, we were just a little bit too cute in some of our moves.
“We should have just taken the game to them.”
Australia, who drew 2-2 away to Saudi Arabia last week, remained on top of Group B of Asian qualifying, but can be leapfrogged by either Saudi Arabia or the UAE, who play in Jeddah later on Tuesday.
Japan, battling fatigue and nursing a number of injuries, played on the counter-attack, forcing the Socceroos to take the initiative.
But the hosts, rattled by the early goal, were devoid of ideas heading forward and resorted to speculative long balls into the area before playing with more verve after the break.
“I’m disappointed in the context of where I think we’re at as a team,” Postecoglou said.
“We’re trying to create a scenario where we’ve got multiple ways of breaking down an opposition. The formation’s one thing, more to the point for me is our movement and our intent.”
Postecoglou took solace in the performance of Tomi Juric, who relegated talismanic striker Tim Cahill to the bench and forced the penalty.
“He was okay tonight. He and (forward Apostolos) Giannou were a little bit too stagnant for us in the first half.
“(But) with Tommy he’s had an effect on the game.
“It’s good to see he’s certainly maturing and progressing well.”
*Reuters
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