Asian World Cup qualifiers matchday 2 roundup

PFDC – KUALA LUMPUR, Australia remained one of two teams with a perfect record after the second matchday of Asian World Cup qualification round 3.

The “Socceroos” defeated Frank Rijkaard’s Saudi Arabia 3-1 in the Persian Gulf country thanks to a brace from Joshua Kennedy and Luke Wilkshire’s penalty kick.

Nasser Al Shamrani had scored the 1-2 for the Saudis  converting the rebound of his own saved penalty kick.

With one point collected, the Green Falcons stand in second position of their group with one point ahead of Oman who surprisingly lost 0-3 in Bangkok to Winfried Schäfer’s Thailand.

The second team with two wins so far are dark horses Jordan, who downed top seed China 2-1 at home, whereas Iraq expectedly defeated Singapore 2-0 thanks to goals from Abdul Zahra and skipper Younis Mahmoud.

Like Iran, Japan and South Korea had to settle with away draws against respectable opposition. Shinji Okasaki canceled out Sever Djeparov’s 1-0 for Uzbekistan, while Korea failed to hold on to a one-goal lead against Kuwait. Again, Park Chu-Young from Arsenal had scored for the Koreans.

North Korea narrowly defeated minnows Tajikistan 1-0, while Lebanon surprisingly downed the once mighty and now pointless UAE 3-1 in Beirut.

The further matches will be played on October 11, November 11, November 15 and February 29.