Japan Hammer China, Australia Stunned In World Cup Qualifiers

Hong Kong, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 6th Sep, 2024) Japan made a flying start to the decisive third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by hammering China 7-0 on Thursday, but Australia suffered a defeat at home. from Bahrain.

In other action, Palestine earned a deserved point with a 0-0 draw in South Korea as they bid to reach the World Cup for the first time.

Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo scored as Japan taught a hapless China a lesson in Saitama.

Brighton winger Mitoma, who has missed part of this year with injury, was making his first appearance for Japan since the Asian Cup in January.

He announced his return in emphatic style in front of more than 50,000 fans, scoring a first-half header after Liverpool’s Endo had given Japan the lead.

“The home support was overwhelming and that allowed us to play well from the first whistle,” said Mitoma.

Takumi Minamino added two more goals after the break to put Japan in cruise control against a China side looking to qualify for their first World Cup since 2002.

It was a night to forget for China, who squeezed into the third qualifying round thanks only to a superior head-to-head record in Thailand.

Also in Group C, Bahrain stunned Australia 1-0 on the Gold Coast thanks to an own goal from Harry Souttar in the 89th.

With the hosts down to 10 men, the match was headed for a scoreless draw until the defender deflected a shot into his own net.

The Socceroos struggled for fluency against their defensive-minded opponents and their hopes were dashed after a 77th-minute red card to striker Kusini Yengi for a high kick.

“It’s a learning curve for the players. It wasn’t our night,” Australian coach Graham Arnold said.

Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia were held to a surprise 1-1 draw in their Group C opener at home to Indonesia, a team ranked 77 places below.

The visitors took the lead when Ragnar Oratmangoen deflected the ball past goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais in the 19th minute.

Musab Al-Juwayr’s own deflected strike in first-half stoppage time then leveled things up.

Salem Al-Dawsari wasted a golden opportunity to put the Saudis ahead 12 minutes from time when his penalty was saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Maarten Paes.

Uzbekistan beat North Korea 1-0 in Tashkent in the opening game in Group A.

The top two from each of the three Asian groups will be guaranteed a spot at the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The third qualifying round ends in June.

– Palestine earns points –

At the 66,000-capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium in Group B, Palestine gave South Korea a major scare in an entertaining goalless stalemate.

Making their debut in the third stage of Asian qualifying and 96th in the FIFA rankings to 23rd South Korea, Palestine refused to be fazed for the majority of an open contest.

Palestine plays its home matches abroad, usually in the Middle East, because of the war in Gaza.

The local league has been suspended and many of the players are without a club.

Despite those obstacles, they were good value for the draw.

Palestine thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Oday Dabbagh went close for the visitors on the break in the second half, before Spurs star Son Heung-min struck the outside of the Palestine post in the dying minutes.

The host could have won the match themselves late on, but goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo saved South Korea from an embarrassing defeat.

Palestine face Jordan on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur in what is nominally a home match.

Also in Group B, Iraq opened their account with a 1-0 home win against Oman in Basra.

Asian Cup finalists Jordan saw victory ripped from their grasp in injury time as Kuwait earned a 1-1 draw at the Amman International Stadium in the other game of the group

Meanwhile, Asian champions Qatar dropped 1-0 at home to United Arab Emirates to lose 3-1 in Group A.

Ibrahim Al-Hassan had put the hosts in front seven minutes before half-time at the Al Rayyan Stadium, but Paulo Bento’s side rallied late in the second half with goals from Harib Abdalla, Khaled Al -Dhanhani and substitute Ali Saleh.

In the other Group A match, Iran defeated Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in Fuladshahr, with Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi getting the only goal of the game just after half an hour .