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KUNMING: China’s Huang Bowen (L) and Zheng Zhi (R) compete for the ball with Qatar’s Rodrigo Barbosa Taba (C) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Kunming, in China’s Yunnan province yesterday. — AFP China held by Qatar, Jedinak saves Australia

KUNMING: Marcello Lippi’s dreams of taking China to out of Group B’s automatic qualifying places as a result. ond World Cup after their sole appearance ended point- sional third in their group, a point behind Saudi Arabia the next World Cup received a reality check yesterday, Elsewhere Japan eased the pressure on coach Vahid less and goalless in 2002. China enjoyed more chances and Japan, with only the top two winning automatic while Asian champions Australia were made to sweat in Halilhodzic with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, while but they were unable to find the breakthrough against qualification for Russia. a near-nightmare in Bangkok. South Korea needed Koo Ja-Cheol’s late winner to over- 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, who remain second from China’s 0-0 draw with Qatar did nothing to boost come Uzbekistan 2-1. bottom and also unlikely to qualify for 2018. ‘WE HAD TO STAY STRONG’ their dwindling hopes of reaching Russia 2018, even Lippi arrived in China with great fanfare-and report- In Bangkok, Teerasil Dangda’s double left Australia on “I think to come away with less than three points after World Cup-winning coach Lippi was appointed last edly, a huge pay cheque-but he was unable to start the brink of a shock defeat, before Socceroos captain here is a real shame, a big disappointment,” said Aston month. with a win which would have lifted them off the bottom Jedinak scored his second penalty of the night on 65 Villa’s Jedinak. “We have to move forward, we need to Mile Jedinak scored twice from the spot as Australia of Group A. The Italian admits ambitious China need a minutes. assess what’s gone wrong here and try to rectify it came from behind to draw 2-2 with Thailand, dropping “miracle” to reach Russia, which would be only their sec- The draw demoted Australia from second to provi- quickly.” — AFP S Korea snatch late win over Uzbekistan

SEOUL: South Korea gave coach Uli China when World Cup qualifying resumes Stielike the perfect birthday gift with a 2- in March while Uzbekistan play Syria. 1 win over Uzbekistan yesterday that Meanwhile, Asian heavyweights Iran breathed new life into their World Cup splashed to a 0-0 draw against Syria in qualifying campaign. World Cup qualifying yesterday on a The victory lifted South Korea above swampy Malaysian pitch that will raise the Uzbeks into second spot in Group A questions over why the match was at the midway point of Asia’s final quali- allowed to proceed. fying round, level on 10 points with Iran. Neither side mounted much sustained The top two sides in Group A and B pressure in the dreary contest as their qualify automatically for the 2018 World keepers easily picked off what few seri- Cup in Russia while the third-placed ous shots they encountered due to the teams meet to decide who goes into a slow pace of play. CONCACAF-Asian Zone playoff for a The result leaves Iran still atop Group place at the finals. A but ruing a failed chance to take three The Koreans have looked a shadow of points against war-torn Syria, who are the side that reached last year’s Asian unable to host games due to the bloody Cup final and went in at halftime trailing conflict back home. 1-0 after Marat Bikmaev pounced on The Syrian side has adopted Malaysia goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu’s poor clear- as a temporary home ground, but yester- ance to curl the ball into an empty net day’s match exposed the pitfalls of the from 25 metres. situation. The subpar pitch in a town out- The hosts had dominated possession side Kuala Lumpur soaked up a heavy in the opening 45 minutes without look- pre-game tropical downpour like a ing remotely dangerous but showed sponge, swallowing passes and making greater urgency after the break and players look as if they were moving at SAITAMA: Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Assaf Alqarni (C) makes a save attempt against Japan during their football match in Group B of the equalised in the 67th minute. half-speed. 2018 World Cup Asian qualifier at Saitama Stadium in Saitama yesterday. — AFP Defender Park Joo-ho dashed down The Iranians dominated play, howev- to the line and his looping cross arced to er, and Saeid Ezatolahi nearly put them the far post where Nam Tae-hee crashed ahead with a header in front of goal in Saudi fury as Japan boost World Cup hopes home a header. the 34th minute that leaked just past the Stielike, celebrating his 62nd birthday, right post. SAITAMA: Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a “This is a big victory for us but it was a Saudi’s hopes of pinching a point with a sharp sent on towering target man Kim Shin- The match settled into a war of attri- foul-tempered qualifier yesterday as a debat- deserved one,” added the Franco-Bosnian after finish after 80 minutes following a deft flick from wook and defender Chul and the tion, with neither squad able to put substitutes combined to set up the win- much pace into their shots due to the able Hiroshi Kiyotake penalty boosted their his side improved to 10 points from five games, substitute Shinji Kagawa. ner. Hong crossed deep from the left, quicksand footing. hopes of qualifying for a sixth successive with five remaining. Othman’s 90th-minute strike crept across the Kim held off a defender to nod the ball With the pitch drying a little by the World Cup in 2018. “We have had to stay strong to come back line in a moment of cruel irony for Japan, who back across goal and Koo Ja-cheol raced late second half the bigger Iranians, their The Blue Samurai drew level with the Group B from some difficult situations and no doubt had a similar effort disallowed in a 2-1 defeat to in behind the defence to slam home five white jerseys now brown, upped the leaders on 10 points after a tempestuous clash there will be more to overcome before we get UAE in September. minutes from time. pressure with a series of attacks. in Saitama, where Kiyotake’s spot kick and a to Russia.” Saudi’s chances of pulling off an improbable After losing 1-0 to Iran in their last But a missed 89th-minute header by Genki Haraguchi effort eased the pressure on Kiyotake converted on the stroke of half-time escape evaporated when captain Osama qualifier, Stielike was delighted his side Alirez Jahanbakhsh on a dangerous cross under-fire coach Vahid Halilhodzic. after Saudi defender Abdulmalek Al Khaibri was Hawsawi saw red for a clumsy challenge in injury had managed to break down the stingy from Milad Mohammadi-right in front of Saudi Arabia pulled a late goal back through adjudged to have handled, despite replays time. Saudi Arabia, who have failed to qualify for Uzbek defence, which had conceded just goal with the keeper beaten-summed up Omar Othman but it was not enough for the visi- showing Kiyotake’s initial shot had struck him in the last two World Cups, could have opened a two goals over their last seven matches. the night for Iran. tors to rescue a draw. the chest. The Saudis protested furiously to ref- six-point lead over Japan. “It’s difficult to accept “We knew how difficult this game The result continues the semi- “Credit to the players for beating a good eree Muhammad bin Jahari of Singapore and losing but we have to be honest and say that would be before we started,” the German charmed run of the homeless Syrians, Saudi team,” said Halilhodzic, whose future has scuffles broke out between the players, which Japan deserved to win,” said Saudi Arabia coach told reporters. “I’m satisfied with how the who have lost twice but also have been plunged into doubt after a poor run of continued as they disappeared down the tunnel Bert van Marwijk. “We have the same points and players turned it around .. We deserved beaten China and drawn with South form during the Asian qualifying campaign. at the interval. Haraguchi effectively killed off the group will be cloe.” — AFP the victory.” South Korea face a trip to Korea. — Agencies