Hong Kong, Jan. 30 (BNA): South Korea’s World Cup qualification hopes remain in their hands as they prepare to face Syria in Dubai on Tuesday, knowing that a win will secure their place in Qatar after celebrations were suspended last week.
Paulo Bento’s team defeated Lebanon in the Group A matches of the Asian qualifiers on Thursday and would have claimed their place in the World Cup finals for the 10th time in a row had the United Arab Emirates not defeated Syria on the same night, Reuters reports.
Although the UAE’s 2-0 victory over the Syrian national team halted Korea’s qualification, a victory over coach Valerio Tita’s team would be enough to take the Taeguk Warriors to the finals alongside already qualified Iran.
“The most important thing is that we were able to collect the three points that we came here to collect,” Bento said after winning in Sidon, which came with a goal in the first half from Cho Gui Song. Despite the victory, we have not yet reached the World Cup, but we are very close to qualifying.”
The Iranians secured their place in the World Cup finals for the third time in a row by defeating Iraq on Thursday and will face the Emirates, which are looking to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches in the qualifiers since Dragan Skocic took over as coach from Mark Wilmots.
Lebanon and Iraq, fourth and fifth in Group A respectively, meet in Sidon while both are still hoping to reach third place in the group.
Although the first and second place winners in each of the two Asian preliminary groups automatically qualify for the finals, those in third place will compete head-to-head for the right to take on a South American team in a final elimination for a place in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia could secure a place in back-to-back World Cup finals at Saitama Stadium when they meet hosts Japan in the battle between the first and second teams in Group B.
Coach Herve Renard’s team leads the Samurai Blue with four points, before there are three matches left, and qualify if Hajime Moriyasu’s team defeats and third-placed Australia fails to beat Oman in Muscat.
The Japanese will once again miss top defensive duo Taekiru Tomiyasu and Maya Yoshida through injury, and Ko Itakura and Shougo Taniguchi will likely replace the duo as they did in the 2-0 win over China on Thursday.
Oman, currently in fourth place, must defeat Australia to have any hope of a late advance to third place in the group, while China face a winless Vietnam team knowing that their chances of survival in the qualifiers are all but gone.