Football
ESPN staff 8y

AFC: Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia win as China and Iran draw

Nawaf Al-Abed fired two late penalties as three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia came from behind to beat Iraq 2-1 to make it two wins out of two in the third round of 2018 AFC World Cup qualifying.

The Group B match, played on neutral soil at Shah Alam Stadium in Malaysia, saw Mohannad Abdul-Raheem give Iraq the lead after 18 minutes. It was the Al Zawraa striker's seventh international goal in his 26th appearance.

But, just as the Iraqis seemed on course for their first victory of the final phase of qualifying, Nawaf equalised in the 81st minute before grabbing the winner seven minutes later, both from the spot. 

It meant that Bert van Marwijk's side produced late heroics for the second match in a row, having scored in the last 10 minutes to beat Thailand at home, just five days earlier.

But Australia lead Group B on goal difference after the Asian champions secured a 1-0 victory over United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

Tim Cahill came off the bench to score his 48th international goal in his 92nd appearance in the 75th minute.

Also in Group B, Japan got their third round campaign up and running by defeating Thailand 2-0 on a rainy night in Bangkok.

The Japanese had lost their previous match at home in controversial circumstances when an apparent equaliser was disallowed in the 2-1 loss against United Arab Emirates in Saitama.

But they were always in control against Kiatisuk Senamuang's War Elephants at Rajamangala Stadium.

After Genki Haraguchi scored after 18 minutes,, Takuma Asano seized on a defensive error to add a second in the 75th minute to give the Samurai Blue their first win of the third round.

In Group A, Asia's top-ranked nation Iran were unable to replicate their added time feats from last week as they were held to a 0-0 draw by China in Shenyang.

Last Thursday, the Iranians scored twice after the 90th minute to defeat Qatar. But Carlos Queiroz's side were frustrated by a determined Chinese side, who had to cope with the loss of goalkeeper Zeng Cheng after only 12 minutes because of a leg injury.

China had a chance to steal a win in added time after Hao Junmin's audacious, long range shot, but it was saved by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

The result means that the Chinese, who haven't appeared in a World Cup finals since 2002, are winless after two matches, having lost to South Korea last week.

South Korea maintained their unbeaten start, but were left to rue missed opportunities as they drew 0-0 with Syria.

Played at Paroi in Malaysia, Uli Stielike's side dominated possession against a Syrian outfit who had lost 1-0 away first up.

2022 World Cup hosts Qatar slumped to a second consecutive defeat after losing 1-0 to Uzbekistan in Doha. 

The only goal of the game came in the 86th minute from defender Egor Krimets to put the Uzbeks top of Group A.

 

^ Back to Top ^