[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING: Asia] Shinji Okazaki‘s goal a minute from time gave Japan a 2-1 win at Oman and moved itcloser to advancing to the World Cup finals for the fifth time in a row. Iran’s chances of qualifying took a hit when it lost at home to Uzbekistan, 1-0, on UlugbekBakaev‘s goal.
Uzbekistan took the lead in Group A, one point ahead of idle South Korea, Iran and Qatar, a 1-0 winner over Lebanon thanks to Sebastian Soria‘s goal.
Iraq’s 1-0 win over Jordan, its first victory in five games, left it in a three-way tie for second place behind Japan in Group B.
Thetop two teams in each group qualify for the World Cup. The third-place teams meet in a playoff, and the winner then plays South America’s No. 5 team.
GroupA
Iran 0 Uzbekistan 1
Iraq 1 Jordan 0
Oman 1 Japan 2
PTS TEAM W-T-L
8 Uzbekistan 2-2-1
7 South Korea 2-1-1
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7 Iran 2-1-2
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7 Qatar 2-1-2
4 Lebanon 1-1-3
Group B
Iraq 1 Jordan0
Oman 1 Japan 2
PTS TEAM W-T-L
13 Japan 4-1-0
5 Australia 1-2-1
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5 Iraq 1-2-2
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5 Oman 1-2-2
4 Jordan 1-1-3