2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA™ – KIWIS ASIAN RIVALS UNDERWAY

As New Zealand enjoyed lifting its fourth Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup title amid scenes of joy at North Harbour Stadium last night, its rivals in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) embarked upon their own journey toward the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

www.oceaniafootball.com and www.fifa.com is pleased to bring you a round-up of the action from last night’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Asian Qualifiers as we cast an eye over OFC’s potential rivals for a playoff spot just over a year from now.

Australia underlined their status as Asia’s top seeds by overcoming hosts Uzbekistan by a single goal in Tashkent, while Saudi Arabia came from a goal down to edge out the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, honours were even in the other two matches on Asia’s Matchday 2 of the final qualifying round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, with the Korean and Gulf derbies both finishing 1-1. Unfancied Qatar remain top of Group A with four points from two matches, while Korea DPR stand atop Group B along with Saudi Arabia.

Photo: FIFA Media

Uzbekistan 0-1 Australia

Goals: Scott Chipperfield (26′)

There was certainly plenty of pressure on top seeds Australia as they met Uzbekistan in Tashkent, in their first-ever visit to central Asia.

The home team went into the contest desperate for a win after their disastrous 3-0 defeat at the hands of Qatar, but it was coach Pim Verbeek’s visitors who scored the only goal of the game, to get their qualifying campaign off to a flying start.

Spurred on by fanatical home support at the Pakhtakor Stadium, coach Rauf Inileyev charges pressed forward from the outset.

However, the Socceroos had the first chance to open the scoring after 17 minutes, when Brett Emerton flashed a shot just over the bar.

Only nine minutes later, Verbeek’s side broke the deadlock, Luke Wilkshire crossing perfectly for an unmarked Scott Chipperfield, who popped up to head past Uzbekistan keeper Ignatiy Nesterov.

The Central Asians piled on could have levelled when Ulugbek Bakaev latched onto Server Djeparov’s cross; his header flew past Mark Schwarzer, but was blocked by Brett Emerton on the goal-line. The hosts had the lion’s share of possession in the second half and they did produce chances to equalize, but their profligacy in front of goal doomed them to defeat.

Korea DPR 1-1 Korea Republic

Ki Seung-Yeung (69′)

Korea DPR’s defence has proved one of the tightest throughout Asia’s qualifying campaign this year. While it seemed no easy task for strikers to score against the ultra-defensive North Koreans, Ki Seung-Yeung managed the feat when he cancelled out Hong Yong-Jo’s second-half penalty. Only five minutes after Hong put Korea DPR ahead, Kim Do-Heon lofted a long ball in the direction of Ki on the edge of the area.

The 23-year-old deftly chested the ball down, and kept his cool to notch his first goal on only his second international appearance.

United Arab Emirates 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Goals: UAE: Subait Khater (23′). Saudi Arabia: Abdoh Autef (68′), Ahmed Al Fraidi (73′)

Saudi Arabia continued their dominance over hosts United Arab Emirates as they came away 2-1 winners, to join Korea DPR at the top of Group B with four points. Bruno Metsu’s outfit went 1-0 up in the first half, Subait Khater putting the home side into the lead after 23 minutes when the set-piece specialist scored directly from a corner kick. Saudi Arabia clawed themselves back into the game after the interval, and their efforts paid dividends as Abdoh Autef leveled the scoreline with a fierce right-footed shot, before second-half substitute Ahmed Al Fraidi sealed the win for the Sons of the Desert seventeen minutes from time.

Qatar 1-1 Bahrain

Goals: Qatar: Sebastian Quintana (5′). Bahrain: Abdulla Fatadi (66′)

Coach Jorge Fossati’s Qatar continued their impressive start to the campaign, drawing 1-1 against Bahrain. The result, coupled with their 3-0 trouncing of Uzbekistan on the opening matchday, saw the tiny Gulf state leading Group A after the opening two games. Playing at home in Doha, Qatar got off to a dream start when their Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Quintana opened the scoring after only 5 minutes. Bahrain, who lost 3-2 to Japan in the opener, had Abdulla Fatadi to thank as the midfielder equalized midway through the second half, to keep Milan Macala’s men in the hunt.

Story courtesy of www.fifa.com

ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION (AFC)

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA^TM ASIAN QUALIFIERS

GROUP A

DATE MATCH RESULT

06.09.08 Bahrain vs. Japan 2-3

06.09.08 Qatar vs. Uzbekistan 3-0

10.09.08 Uzbekistan vs. Australia 0-1

10.09.08 Qatar vs. Bahrain 1-1

15.09.08 Australia vs. Qatar

15.10.09 Japan vs. Uzbekistan

19.11.08 Qatar vs. Japan

19.11.08 Bahrain vs. Australia

11.02.09 Uzbekistan vs. Bahrain

11.02.09 Japan vs. Australia

28.03.09 Japan vs. Bahrain

28.03.09 Uzbekistan vs. Qatar

01.04.09 Australia vs. Uzbekistan

01.04.09 Bahrain vs. Qatar

06.06.09 Qatar vs. Australia

06.06.09 Uzbekistan vs. Japan

10.06.09 Australia vs. Bahrain

10.06.09 Japan vs. Qatar

17.06.09 Bahrain vs. Uzbekistan

17.06.09 Australia vs. Japan

GROUP A – Standings

ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION (AFC)

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA^TM ASIAN QUALIFIERS

DATE MATCH RESULT

06.09.08 Saudi Arabia vs. Iran 1-1

06.09.08 United Arab Emirates vs. DPR Korea 1-2

10.09.08 DPR Korea vs. Korea Republic 1-1

10.09.08 United Arab Emirates vs. Saudi Arabia 1-2

15.10.08 Korea Republic vs. United Arab Emirates

15.10.08 Iran vs. DPR Korea

19.11.08 Saudi Arabia vs. Korea Republic

19.11.08 United Arab Emirates vs. Iran

11.02.09 DPR Korea vs. Saudi Arabia

11.02.09 United Arab Emirates vs. Iran

28.03.09 Iran vs. Saudi Arabia

28.03.09 DPR Korea vs. United Arab Emirates

01.04.09 Korea Republic vs. DPR Korea

01.04.09 Saudi Arabia vs. United Arab Emirates

06.06.09 United Arab Emirates vs. Korea Republic

06.06.09 DPR Korea vs. Iran

10.06.09 Iran vs. United Arab Emirates

10.06.09 Korea Republic vs. Saudi Arabia

17.06.09 Saudi Arabia vs. DPR Korea

17.06.09 Korea Republic vs. Iran

GROUP B – Standings