The three points keep Iran safely on top of Group 5 with 9 points.

Australia handed Qatar a 3-1 thumping in on Saturday. A Bret Emerton brace put the visiting Aussies ahead and Harry Kewell added a third goal before Khalfan Al Khalfan pulled one back late for Qatar.

The three points leave Australia three points clear at the top with ten points, followed by Iraq and Qatar with seven each.

Uzbekistan held onto sole possession of the top spot in Group 4 after a convincing 3-0 win at home over Lebanon. The Uzbeks were led by Odil Ahmedov, who scored twice in a 13-minute span early in the second half, with Server Djeparov adding a third in second-half injury time.

The result leaves Uzbekistan, who had already qualified for the next phase, three points clear of second-place Saudi Arabia, with Lebanon at the bottom after failing to secure a point from five matches.

In Group 3, Korea Republic had already been granted passage to the next phase by virtue of Jordan’s defeat earlier in the day, but that didn’t stop the South Koreans from snatching a dramatic 1-3 win away to Turkmenistan. The hosts seem to have the draw in hand when Guvanch Ovekov’s 81st-minute penalty equalised Cho Won-hee’s first half goal, but Kim Do-heon scored twice in the final five minutes to grab the win for the visitors.

Korea Republic and Korea DPR are now even atop the group with 11 points, with the southern neighbours holding the edge in goal difference.

For the second successive FIFA World Cup™, China have made an early exit from Asian qualifying. Going down to Iraq 2-1 today in Tianjin, they lost any faint remaining hope of progressing to the final Asian qualifying round. Zhou Haibin gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute, but Emad Mohammed equalised before half-time, and Iraq’s midfield general Nashat Akram scored the winner 24 minutes from the end.

Iraq move into second in the group along with Qatar, and China are left at the bottom with three points.

Group 4 of the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is now done and dusted, with Saudi Arabia securing qualification today at the expense of their hosts Singapore.

The Saudis scored through Abdoh Autef in the first half, and Ahmed Al Fraidi made sure of the points with a second goal in the 76th minute. Saudi Arabia now join top-of-the-group Uzbekistan in the next round.

Japan have ensured their progression from Group 2 with a 3-0 defeat of Thailand in Bangkok.

It was the defenders who did the damage for Takeshi Okada’s side, with Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa scoring goals in the first half. Midfielder Kengo Nakamura added a third in the 89th minute.

In the group’s other game, Bahrain drew Oman 1-1 in Riffa, eliminating the Omanis from contention and putting themselves one point ahead of Japan. The day’s results mean that Japan and Bahrain have secured passage to the next phase of qualifying, though it’s not certain which side will win the group.

Group 3 of Asian qualifying is now decided, with Korea DPR defeating Jordan 2-0 in Pyongyang.

A goal in each half from Serbian-based striker Hong Yong-Jo was enough to see off the Jordanians, who are now unable to catch up with Korea Republic. The South Koreans are through to the next stage along with Korea DPR, with Turkmenistan already eliminated.

More to follow.

Latest Results
China PR 1-2 Iraq
Singapore 0-2 Saudi Arabia
Thailand 0-3 Japan
Korea DPR 2-0 Jordan
Uzbekistan 3-0 Lebanon
Turkmenistan 1-3 Korea Republic
Bahrain 1-1 Oman
Qatar 1-3 Australia
Syria 0-2 Iran

Today’s fixtures
Kuwait-United Arab Emirates