HONG KONG: Qatar superior to the third part of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Kuwait as Iran, Uzbekistan and the UAE joined Australia and Iraq in securing progress to the subsequent spherical.
Almoez Ali twice put Marquez Lopez’s Asian Cup holders forward in Kuwait City to keep up his facet’s good report in Group A and seal high spot in the standings after India suffered a 2-1 loss against Afghanistan.
The first two finishers in every of the 9 teams advance to the third spherical of the continent’s qualifiers for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the US, the place Asia can have eight assured slots on the 48-team match.
Uzbekistan additionally confirmed their place in the third spherical with a 3-0 win over Hong Kong in Tashkent, with targets from Eldor Shomurodov, Hojimat Erkinov and Oston Urunov making certain they’d take one of many two berths accessible in Group E.
They can be joined in the subsequent spherical from the group by Iran, with each nations on 10 factors after Mehdi Ghayedi scored the one purpose in a 1-0 win against Turkmenistan in Ashgabat.
Fabio Lima netted a brace to take the UAE by from Group H having defeated Yemen 3-0 in the Saudi Arabian metropolis of Khobar as Bahrain strengthened their grip on second place with a 3-0 victory over Nepal.
Saudi Arabia, nonetheless, should wait till their assembly with Jordan on June 6 for an additional alternative to ebook a berth in the subsequent spherical after Rustam Soirov’s eightieth minute equaliser earned Tajikistan a 1-1 draw against Roberto Mancini’s facet.
The Saudis would have certified with a win in Dushanbe however nonetheless lead Group G by three factors from Jordan, who thrashed Pakistan 7-0 in Amman.
Kyrgyzstan and Oman are locked collectively on 9 factors on the high of Group D after Kyrgyzstan eased to a 5-1 win over guests Taiwan and the Omanis gained 2-0 against hosts Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Syria demolished Myanmar 7-0 to maneuver to inside two factors of Group B leaders Japan, whose assembly with North Korea was cancelled when the secretive state stated final week it will not host the assembly with Hajime Moriyasu’s facet in Pyongyang.
Earlier in the day, Iraq and Australia confirmed their passage to the subsequent spherical with 5-0 wins over the Philippines and Lebanon respectively securing their progress.
Iraq are sure to undergo as one of many high two in Group F, the place they lead Indonesia by 5 factors after Shin Tae-yong’s facet claimed a 3-0 win over Vietnam.
Australia will progress from Group I forward of Palestine, who have been 1-0 winners against Bangladesh.
Son Heung-min was on the scoresheet as South Korea defeated Thailand 3-0 in Bangkok to proceed to steer Group C by three factors from China, who moved into second place with a 4-1 win over Singapore.
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