Last Updated: November 22, 2023, 02:00 IST
HONG KONG:South Korea’s Son Heung-min scored twice and arrange the third in a 3-0 win over China as Asia’s high sides claimed victories within the second spherical of qualifying on Tuesday for the 2026 World Cup.
Japan, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all received, whereas Kuwait and North Korea scored a flurry of objectives en path to victories.
Australia and Palestine gamers stood for a minute’s silence forward of their recreation, which was performed in Kuwait as a result of Israel-Hamas battle.
Son was in high kind as South Korea accomplished again-to-again wins in the beginning of their problem for a spot on the 2026 finals.
He put the Koreans in entrance within the Group C conflict within the second part of Asia’s preliminaries when he steered an eleventh-minute penalty to the precise of Chinese goalkeeper Yan Junling.
He added the second within the forty fifth minute with a header following Lee Kang-in’s nook earlier than turning supplier three minutes from time when he drifted in a free kick that Jung Seung-hyun headed previous Yan to seal the victory.
The win maintains the Koreans’ excellent file after two video games within the second spherical of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and was China’s first defeat after successful in opposition to Thailand on Thursday.
The Thais bounced again from that loss to beat Singapore 3-1 with Suphanat Mueanta scoring twice within the second half for Mano Polking’s group, who transfer degree with China on three factors.
Japan additionally recorded a second successive win with Ayase Ueda scoring twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Syria in Jeddah that offers Hajime Moriyasu’s facet a 3-level lead over North Korea and the Syrians in Group B.
Jong Il Gwan scored a hat-trick as North Korea picked up their first win of the marketing campaign with a 6-1 thrashing of Myanmar in Yangon having began their quest for a spot on the finals final Thursday with a loss in opposition to Syria.
Harry Souttar scored the one aim in Australia’s 1-0 win over Palestine in Group I, which was performed in Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium as a result of ongoing Israel-Gaza battle.
Players held a minute’s silence forward of kickoff earlier than Souttar scored the sport’s solely aim with an 18th-minute header.
Australia are high of the group with six factors, 4 forward of Lebanon who drew 1-1 with Bangladesh.
Second-half objectives from Oston Orunov and Igor Sergeev noticed Uzbekistan combat again from a two-aim halftime deficit to attract 2-2 with Iran in Group E, leaving each groups on 4 factors, three forward of Hong Kong and Turkmenistan following their 2-2 draw.
Mohanad Ali scored six minutes into harm time to earn Iraq a 1-0 win over hosts Vietnam in Group F as Jesus Casas’ facet moved onto six factors.
Vietnam stay second within the group standings after the Philippines and Indonesia shared a 1-1 attract Manila.
Substitute Darren Lok claimed the one aim as Malaysia defeated Taiwan for his or her second win in Group D whereas Kyrgyzstan received 1-0 in opposition to Oman to affix the Gulf facet on three factors.
Qatar received their second recreation in a row with a 3-0 defeat of India in Group A and Yemen picked up their first victory in Group H with a 2-0 win over Nepal.
Tajikistan downed Pakistan 6-1 with Amadoni Kamolov hitting a brace in Islamabad in Group G, whereas Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al Shehri scored twice in a 2-0 win over Jordan, who sit third within the group with only one level after two matches.
Also sustaining an ideal file in Group H have been United Arab Emirates with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain after a robust first-half strike from Abdalla Bekheet and a penalty a minute from fulltime which Ali Mabkhout transformed.
Kuwait, in the meantime, thrashed Afghanistan 4-0 away to maneuver into second place in Group A behind Qatar.
The qualifying video games will resume in March subsequent 12 months.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)
