WCQ: Iran and Uzbeks top

PFDC – KUALA LUMPUR, The weekend has been busy in Asia with World Cup qualification round 3 coming towards the end.

In group A, already qualified Jordan‘s amazing run was ended by Iraq, who thanks to the 3-1 win in Amman eliminated China with only the quest for the top spot remaining open for the final matchday in February.

Group B saw surprise team Lebanon handing South Korea the first defeat, keeping the small nation in second place and in the haunt for a spot in the next and final round with ten points collected. Also South Korea have 10 points so far and will need to avoid a slip-up against hopeful Kuwait, who are third with eight points.

In group C, Uzbekistan and Japan had already secured their spots in the next round last week, so Japan’s 0-1 loss to already eliminated North Korea in Pyongyang didn’t matter. Unbeaten Uzbekistan top the group after thrashing Tajikistan 3-0 and need to avoid a loss in Tokyo in February to keep the, however meaningless, top position.

While Australia are already certain group D winners, Saudi Arabia are still fearing elimination after a goalless draw with Oman in Riyadh. Should third-placed Oman, currently on five points, win their homegame against Thailand on the final matchday, only a Saudi win in Australia would avoid the catastrophe. Even Thailand (four points) are still not certainly out of the race.

Iran, the second Asian team unbeaten in this qualifying campaign, secured a spot in the next stage thanks to a comfortable 4-1 defeat of Indonesia in Jakarta. Tiny Persian Gulf island Bahrain are meanwhile as good as eliminated following their 0-0 draw in Doha. Bahrain could still catch up to Qatar should they beat Indonesia and Qatar lose in Tehran, but making up a minus nine goal difference seems impossible.

Qatar could still knock Iran from the top spot with a surprise win in Azadi stadium.

Iran, however, have the most dangerous attack of Asia currently, having scored 15 goals in five matches. Second best offense belongs to Japan, who have scored 14 goals, followed by South Korea with 12 goals netted.

Best defense is Uzbekistan with only one goal conceded, followed by Japan (two goals) and five teams including Iran with three conceded goals.

Logically, Iran and Japan have the best goal difference.

The top two teams of the five groups qualify for the fourth and final round of Asian World Cup qualifying, where the ten teams will be splitted into two groups. While the two top teams of each group will participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the to third-placed teams will compete for a spot in a two-legged playoff against a South American opponent for the final World Cup final berth.