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IN PICS: Asian WCQ wrap

Sport360 staff 20:33 06/10/2016

The United Arab Emirates put their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign back on track on Thursday evening as Ali Mabkhout’s double helped Mahdi Ali’s side secure a 3-1 win over Thailand.

The two-time Gulf Cup champions bounced back from the disappointment of their 1-0 loss against Australia last month to pick up their second win of the campaign following their opening day win against four-time Asian champions Japan.

Mabkhout claimed a goal in each half as the UAE collected all three points against a Thailand side that scored their first goal of the campaign when Tana Chanabut netted in the 65th minute before Ahmed Khalil put the result beyond doubt in injury time.

THURSDAY’S OTHER RESULTS

JAPAN 2-1 IRAQ

Japan needed a 95th-minute strike from substitute Hotaru Yamaguchi to down Iraq 2-1 and stay on track in Asia’s final qualifying round.

Japan were headed for a morale-sapping draw against Iraq when Yamaguchi smashed a loose ball from a corner through a forest of legs and into the Iraqi goal.

Genki Haraguchi had put the four-time Asian champions ahead with a brilliant flick between his legs before Saad Luaibi nodded Iraq’s equaliser after half-time.

The result gave Japan their second win in three games and boosted under-fire coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who has endured calls for his resignation and has suffered reported player unrest.

SOUTH KOREA 3-2 QATAR

South Korean star Son Heung-Min kept Qatar’s World Cup ambitions on hold and Japan also survived a scare as China suffered a potentially calamitous defeat to Syria on Thursday.

Qatar remained at the bottom after suffering their third straight defeat.

The 2022 hosts were done in by Tottenham Hotspur’s Son who extended his electric club form with the winning goal in South Korea’s 3-2 triumph in Suwon.

Qatar fought bravely and they came from behind to take a shock 2-1 lead into the break thanks to Hassan Al-Haydos’s penalty and Sebastian Soria’s goal at the end of the first half.

But Uli Stielike’s men, seeking their 10th World Cup appearance, levelled through Ji Dong-Won before Son, who has scored five for Spurs already this season, curled in the winner on 58 minutes.

CHINA 0-1 SYRIA

China were stunned 1-0 at home by war-ravaged Syria as they slipped to fifth in Group A, with only the top two teams reaching Russia and the third-placed side going into a play-off series.

Syrian forward Mahmoud Al-Mawas’s breakaway goal in the 54th minute settled a gritty game which left China stranded on one point from their first three games in Group A.

Seventy-eighth ranked China have ambitions of hosting and even winning a World Cup, but Al-Mawas dented their hopes of reaching the tournament for a second time at Russia 2018.

The bustling, bearded forward latched onto a long ball and prodded his first touch past on-rushing goalkeeper Gu Chao before controlling the bouncing ball into the net.

IRAN 1-0 UZBEKISTAN

Iran stayed on course for a Russia 2018 spot after shifting Uzbekistan from the top of Asian qualifying Group A on goal difference with a 1-0 victory in Tashkent.

Iran are also the only team in the group not to concede a goal in three matches so far, having previously beaten Qatar 2-0 and drawn 0-0 with China.

SAUDI ARABIA 2-2 AUSTRALIA

Former AFC Player of the Year Nassir Al Shamrani came off the bench to maintain Saudi Arabia’s unbeaten start to the final phase of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals when his goal 11 minutes from time earned Bert van Marwijk’s side a 2-2 draw with Australia on Thursday evening.

Al Shamrani scored from close range to level the scores after Tomi Juric had put Australia in front for the first time in the 71st minute of an enthralling encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City.

Taisir Al Jassem gave Saudi Arabia the lead after just five minutes only for Trent Sainsbury to equalise for Australia on the stroke of halftime.

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