Seoul, Feb. 1 (BNA): South Korea qualified for the World Cup for the 10th consecutive time after beating Syria 2-0 in Dubai on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
Second-half goals from Kim Jin-soo and Kwon Chang-hoon gave the Koreans a comfortable victory over the latter’s team in the Asian Group A qualifiers.
South Korea, the 15th country to qualify for the 32-team field, advanced by 11 points over third-placed United Arab Emirates with two games remaining.
Iran, who have already qualified, beat the UAE 1-0 to remain top of Group A. Last week, Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for Qatar when they beat Iraq 1-0.
The two best teams from both groups qualify automatically. Third place teams advance to the playoffs.
In Group Two, a first-half goal from Takumi Minamino put Japan on their way to a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia at Saitama Stadium and keep the host on track for their seventh consecutive World Cup finals appearance.
Minamino’s goal from close range in the 31st minute was made by Junya Ito. The Belgium-based winger then added the second goal shortly after the start of the second half with a powerful shot from the edge of the area to achieve the Saudis’ first defeat in the group.
Saudi Arabia, who would have qualified for the sixth World Cup with a win, still leads the group with 19 points, one point behind Japan.
Australia allowed a late goal and settled for a 2-2 draw with Oman in Muscat. Australia remains third in Group B despite moving up to 15 points.
The Australian team advanced early through a penalty kick by Jimmy McClaren, but Abdullah Fawaz Adel, the owner of the land, shortly after the start of the second half.
While Aaron Mooy restored Australia’s lead 13 minutes before the end of the match, Fawaz awarded Oman a point with a penalty kick in the 89th minute.
Last-placed Vietnam, who had previously lost all of their seven matches in Group B, beat China 3-1 in Hanoi. The defeat ended China’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup for only a second time.
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