World Cup qualifiers: Japan is close to leading the Asian standings
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Japan came close against Saudi Arabia and Australia in the Asian World Cup standings, beating Vietnam 1-0 on Thursday, while the two main teams in Group B drew 0-0.
The Saudis are in the team with 13 points, Australia with 10 and Japan with nine.
Only the first two qualifiers from the two sets of six teams will automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Junya Ito scored from afar Japan’s early goal, a team that has appeared in every World Cup since 1998, but this time is in danger of failing.
Australia, who were playing at home for the first time in more than two years, have won 11 consecutive qualifying matches, but now have only one point from their last two games.
“We played well overall, we created chances, but they didn’t come in,” said Australian coach Graham Arnold. “Then there was a bit of frustration with the Saudis’ waste of time and tactics. We have to learn to be better with that, because then the opportunities were created. ”
The result was better for Saudi Arabia, who scored first point on Australian soil.
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The Saudis will travel to Vietnam on Tuesday, Australia will face China in the United Arab Emirates and Japan will visit Oman.
Oman is fourth with seven points after a 1-1 draw with China. Wu Leik put China ahead in the 21st minute, but Amjad Al-Harthik headed in a 15-minute header to tie the game with four points to keep China in fifth place.
In Group A, South Korea continued its 10th consecutive World Cup match with a 1-0 win over the BAC.
Hwang Hee-chan, who plays for England at Wolverhampton Wanderers, was penalized at the end of the first half.
“It was a very good performance,” said South Korean coach Paulo Bento. “We should have taken more advantage of our chances, but we were totally worth three points, and we can look forward to the next game.”
South Korea finished second behind Iran, scoring two goals in extra time to beat Lebanon 2-1.
Sardar Azmoun equalized for Iran in the first half, and Ahmad Nourollahi added another with the final shot of the match.
In the remaining match of the group, Iraq and Syria drew 1-1 by finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.
Iran has 13 points in Group A, and South Korea 11.
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