Iran qualify for World Cup while Aussies, Saudis keep hopes alive

TEHRAN – World Cup regulars Iran became the second Asian team to book their place at next year’s global showpiece when they twice came from behind to share the spoils 2-2 with Uzbekistan in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran, the next best AFC nation in the FIFA rankings behind Japan, required just a point to join their fellow Asian team in qualifying for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Group A leaders struggled at the Azadi Stadium against a rising Uzbekistan team, with Mehdi Taremi getting the late equalizer – his second of the match – seven minutes from time.

Seeking to qualify for their first World Cup, Uzbekistan went in front on 16 minutes through Khojimat Erkinov, before Inter Milan forward Taremi added two more shortly after the break.

Parity would last exactly one minute, Abbosbek Fayzullaev putting Uzbekistan back in front.

And it was Taremi too who brought his side back in the game and, in the end, into North America, when he slotted home late past ’keeper Utkir Yusupov.

This will be Iran’s fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.

Uzbekistan stay on track for a first-ever place in the finals.

Currently second on 17 points, a victory in June away to the UAE in third or at home to fourth-placed Qatar will do, although they could qualify earlier.

The UAE, who are level on 10 points with Qatar, face bottom-placed North Korea later on Tuesday. If the UAE lose, Uzbekistan will reach the finals.

The top two qualify directly for the World Cup, while the third- and fourth-placed teams in the three Asian groups advance to another round of qualification.

Australia overcame China 2-0 earlier on Tuesday to enhance their hopes of automatic qualification while Saudi Arabia kept pace in Group C with a goalless draw in Japan.

Son Heung-min’s South Korea remain top and favourites to progress from Asian Group B, but they contributed to another unauthentic display as they were held at home for a second consecutive match for a 1-1 draw with Jordan.

Australia went ahead through first-half goals from Jackson Irvine and Nishan Velupillay, and the victory put the Socceroos in second place in Group C on 13 points with two to play, three points clear of Saudi Arabia with a vastly superior goal difference. Japan are already guaranteed to top the group.

Australia welcome Japan as they travel to Saudi Arabia for their final qualifiers in June, leaving second qualification place up for grabs. China are bottom with six points, but they can advance to a later qualifying stage if they place third or fourth.

Indonesia claimed a 1-0 win over Bahrain to put them up to fourth on nine points.

The Netherlands’ goal was scored by Ole Romeny, an Oxford United forward, as he continued his scoring streak by netting in his second consecutive game to gift Netherlands and Barcelona great Patrick Kluivert his first win as manager.

South Korea, second after drawing Oman 1-1 last week, was held to the same score against second-placed Jordan in Suwon.

If South Korea had won both matches, they would have qualified with two matches to spare.

It faces a tricky away trip to Iraq in June and a final home clash with Kuwait, needing four points to guarantee progression without needing others to do them favours.

Jordan are three points behind South Korea, but if Iraq beat Palestine in Amman later they can leapfrog them and close the top of Group B to one point.