Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran took the headlines at the end of Matchday Eight of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with their 2-0 win over Uzbekistan ensuring they would become the first Asian nation to earn a place at Russia next year.
Group A
Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi scored in either half as Team Melli not only maintained their unbeaten record in qualifying but also extended their run of Group A clean sheets to eight.
Any disappointment Uzbekistan might have felt at the defeat was mitigated by Korea Republic’s shock 3-2 defeat in Qatar.
The former World Cup semi-finalists did level the tie in Doha after goals from Hasan Al Haydos and Akram Afif had seen them go 2-0 down but a third from Al Haydos negated the work of Ki Sung-yueng and Hwang Hee-chan.
The stunning result was the catalyst for the subsequent dismissal shortly after of coach Uli Stielike. (hyperlink to story about Stielike’s firing)
Qatar’s surprise victory also sees the Road to Russia remain open for Syria after Ahmad Al Salih’s late free-kick earned a point against China in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Melaka.
Iran remain in a strong position to win the group with a seven-point lead over second-placed Korea with just two games remaining.
Uzbekistan remain hot on the Koreans’ heels just a point behind and Syria a further three back.
Qatar and China do still have mathematical possibilities of making third place and the play-off but the gap is five and six points respectively.
Group B
The story is quite different in Group B where three teams vie for the two automatic places at Russia 2018 with Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia all in the reckoning.
The Socceroos played a week early due to Confederation Cup commitments and came out on top in an exciting 3-2 win over the Saudis in Adelaide.
Japan’s 1-1 draw with Iraq at PAS Tehran Stadium does see the Samurai Blue remain in top spot but by just the slimmest of margins after Yuya Osaka’s 8th minute opener was cancelled out by Mahdi Kamel.
In Bangkok, the United Arab Emirates knew that anything but a draw against Thailand would see them eliminated from contention, while anything but a win would see them only mathematically still in the running.
Both teams had changed coaches since their first meeting in Abu Dhabi last October with Mahdi Ali and Kiatisuk Senamuang being replaced by Edgardo Bauza and Milovan Rajevac respectively.
Despite missing several key players it was Thailand who took the lead through Mongkol Tossakrai on 68 minutes but Ali Makhout levelled late on in injury time to deny the Southeast Asians a first win in the final round of World Cup qualifiers.
There remains all to play for at the top in Group B with August’s Matchday Nine tie between Japan and Australia set to whet the appetite.
The UAE are now six points off the three leading sides but a win over Saudi Arabia at home in their next fixture could haul themselves back into contention.
Iraq and Thailand are already eliminated but will look to finish off the qualifiers with a winning momentum and build towards the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com