Hong Kong: South Korea moved to the threshold of qualifications for the November World Cup final in Qatar on Thursday because Cho Gue-Sung’s goal produced Paulo Bento’s victory over Lebanon in Sidon.
Koreans, who were missing Duo Son Heung-Min and Hwang Hee-Chan, were made to work for victories who moved them to 17 points from seven matches in Group A from the Introduction of Asia.
It shows that the calculation means Korea will be confirmed as a World Cup qualifier if the United Arab Emirates did not defeat Syria in their meeting in Dubai on Thursday and at least sure of the place in the playoffs.
Cho scored the only game goal when he was attached to a low curly cross Hwang UI-jo from the left, the progress directed the ball home from close range.
But Lebanon was far from playing, with the brothers Alexander and Felix Meli both hit wood for the side of Ivan Hasek.
In Group B, Australia struggled Vietnam 4-0 in Melbourne but remained in third place in the standings after Japan was in second place on the Chinese side 2-0 in Saitama Stadium.
Socceroos took two goals into the interval through the header from Jamie Maclaren and finishing with Tom Rogic before Vietnam struggled to find the way back to the match in the second round.
But lobed efforts from Craig Goodwin in the 72nd minute and Riley McGree shots remotely secured points, even with coach Graham Arnold was forced to watch from isolation after a positive Covid-19 test.
“I can’t be more happy with energy,” said assistant coach Rene Meulensteen.
“We know it will be a challenge because of that international football.” Japan was held to second place with a victory over the Chinese side who saw their hopes in all playoffs – but went out.
Yuya Osako led Japan in the 13th minute of the penalty spot, giving goalkeeper Yan Jinling the chance with the effort taken strongly after ITO’s junya cross had been handled by Wang Shenchao.
Japan rarely troubled by the Chinese led by new coach Li Xiaopeng for the first time, with the visitors struggling to get ownership outside the half alone.
Ito added a decent second goal in the 61st minute when he met a replacement for the bait Pinpoint Yuta Nakayama from the left with a header that flew to the lower corner.
Only the top two countries in each of the two Asian groups guaranteed to advance to the World Cup, with finishers who are in third place facing the playoffs to have the right to meet the South American team for the possibility of anchoring in Qatar.