Iraq revives Cup dream

Iraq came from a goal down to claim a vital 2-1 win against China at the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianjin on Saturday.

Zhou Haiban opened the scoring for the hosts but Emad Ridha hit back for Iraq before Nashat Akram's 67th minute winner.

North Korea joined neighbours South Korea in the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers as two goals from Hong Yong Jo crushed Jordan's slender hopes of progressing in Pyongyang.

Jordan was four points behind the North Koreans before kick-off and needed the victory to have any chance of progressing from Group Three, but the 2-0 loss has ended any chance of that.

Japan moved into the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Thailand on Saturday.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuki Nakazawa and Kengo Nakamura were on target for the visitors, who progressed to the last phase with Bahrain.

A hat-trick from Kim Do-heon sunk Turkmenistan as South Korea returned to the top of Group Three in the Asian World Cup qualifiers on Sunday with a 3-1 win.

Kim opened his account in the 14th minute and, after Guvanch Ovekov scored a penalty for the hosts, he struck twice in the final five minutes, the second also a penalty, to give Korea Republic all three points.

Uzbekistan maintained its perfect record in Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup as it beat Lebanon 3-0 on Sunday.

A brace by substitute Odil Ahmedov and a late strike by Server Djeparov gave the Central Asians a comfortable victory.

Bahrain booked its place in the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers after holding Oman to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Faouzi Aaish fired the Bahrainis ahead in the Group Two tie at the National Stadium and while Ismail Al Ajmi equalised for the visitors midway through the second half, the point was not enough to keep the Omanis in the competition.

Iran coach Ali Daei admitted he was pleased to see his side weather an early storm before defeating Syria 2-0 in Damascus and securing its place in the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Gholamreza Rezaei gave the visitors a 64th-minute lead before Mohsen Khalili put the result beyond doubt deep into stoppage time at Al-Abbasiyyin Stadium on Sunday.

Saif Mohamed's dramatic late winner saw the United Arab Emirates take pole position in the race to join Iran in the final World Cup qualifying round following a 3-2 triumph over Kuwait at Al Kuwait Stadium on Sunday.

Ismail Matar scored twice to give UAE a comfortable advantage only for Ahmed Ajab to hit back for the hosts before Mohamed's late heroics secured the victory.

New Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al Johar is convinced there is more to come from his side after its 2-0 victory over Singapore booked its place in the final round of Asian World Cup Qualifiers.

Goals from Abdoh Autef and Ahmed Al Fraidi secured the win for Al Johar, who took over the national team after Helio dos Anjos was sacked last week.

Asian World Cup qualifiers

Korea DPR 2 (Hong 44, 72)
Jordan 0

Thailand 0
Japan 3 (Tanaka 23, Nakazawa 39, Nakamura 89)

Turkmenistan 1 (Ovekov 81p)
Korea Republic 3 (Cho 14, Kim 85, 89p)

Uzbekistan 3 (Ahmedov 50, 63, Djeparov 94)
Lebanon 0

Singapore 0
Saudi Arabia 2 (Autef 37, Al Fraidi 76)

Bahrain 1 (Aaish 41)
Oman 1 (Al Ajmi 72)

China 1 (Zhou 33)
Iraq 2 (Mohammed 41, Akram 66)

Syria 0
Iran 2 (Rezaei 64, Khalili 95)

Kuwait 2 (Al Azemi 52, 79)
United Arab Emirates 3 (Matar 23, 39, Mohamed 91)