BANGKOK, Nov 15, (Agencies): Brett Holman headed home a late winner to send Australia into the next round of Asia’s World Cup qualifying on Tuesday, snatching a 1-0 victory that put Thailand in real danger of missing the 2014 finals in Brazil.
Holman converted a Brett Emerton cross from close range 14 minutes from time to win Group D with an uninspiring victory over a Thai side that battled to stay in the competition but paid a heavy price for missed chances.
Australia struggled in the Bangkok heat in front of a packed and hostile crowd and a team that stifled their attempts to control the game.
Diminutive Thai keeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool was in fine form and was unlucky to finally be beaten, venturing far off his line to collect a shower of Emerton crosses and keep lofty striker Joshua Kennedy at bay.
Australia have 12 points with one match left to play, ahead of Saudi Arabia who meet Oman later on Tuesday.

“It was a hard-fought victory against a very organised team that prepared well,” Australia coach Holger Osieck told reporters. “We knew what to expect and we persevered in what was a very tough game.”
With three defeats from five games, Thailand were left hoping the Saudis draw later and the last round of matches go their way so they can grab second spot and advance to the final 10.
“It was just one mistake and they scored,” Thai coach Winfried Schaefer said. “We lacked that killer instinct.”
Datsakorn Thonglao directed most of the Thai attacks, floating the ball out to the wings and to feed pacy winger Suree Sukha, who could have scored twice.
Australia were without the injured Harry Kewell and Kennedy proved largely ineffective, spurning a chance in the 28th minute when he bent down low to nod an Emerton cross into the hands of Sinthaweechai.

Suree almost broke the deadlock for Thailand in the 35th minute, latching on to a perfect lofted ball from Datsakorn but blasting over the bar from six metres with only keeper Mark Schwarzer to beat.
Australia came out fighting after the break, with Kennedy squandering a chance on 55 minutes. Their moves on goal finally paid off when Holman took advantage of a slack defence to clinch the winner.
Osieck commended his players but turned prickly when asked if the victory was fortunate.
“I want to know why you say fortunate,” he snapped at an Australian reporter. “They missed their chances and we played well enough to win.”

Kuwait 2, UAE 1
In Kuwait City, Kuwait came from a goal down to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 and keep alive their chances of reaching the next round of 2014 World Cup qualifying.
The UAE scored in the 18th minute when Ismaeil Matar retrieved a cross into the area and fired past goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Khalidi.
The Kuwaitis stepped up their game in the second half, and midfielder Fahad al-Enzi drew the home side level when he headed a cross from Bader al-Mutwa into the net from close range in the 49th.
UAE substitute Walid Abbas scored a decisive own goal in the 68th from a corner, and several acrobatic saves by al-Khalidi ensured the visitors remain winless in the competition.

Iraq 3, Jordan 1
In Amman, Jordan, two goals from midfielder Nashat Akram helped Iraq come from a goal down to beat Jordan 3-1 and reach the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.
Hassan Abdel Fattah opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Jordan nearly doubled its lead three minutes later when Amer Deeb’s free kick hit the woodwork.
Akram equalized in the 55th minute and Iraq took the lead 10 minutes later courtesy of Qusay Munir’s free kick.
The Iraqis, who were Asian champions in 2007, sealed victory when Nakram scored again in the 80th minute.
Jordan and Iraq both have 12 points in Group A, with third-place China on six points with one round of matches to play.

The victory was greeted by popular celebrations in Iraq, with people flooding into the streets and enjoying a rare event that unifies people across religious and cultural divides.
Young men waved Iraqi flags from car windows as drivers honked their horns and flashed their lights. Others walked through the streets cheering and clapping, and even Iraqi soldiers carrying AK-47 rifles were dancing in celebration.
The government called on Iraqis to refrain from shooting into the air, a traditional method of celebrating sporting victories in Iraq. But judging by the repeated bursts of gunfire ringing out across the city, few seemed to be paying attention to the warning.
Some Iraqi officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, went to Jordan to watch the match, while Iraqi state TV reported that congratulations were pouring in from President Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and the speaker of the parliament Osama al-Nujaifi.

Lebanon 2, South Korea 1
In Beirut, Lebanon stunned Asian heavyweights South Korea 2-1 in Beirut to leave them on the brink of advancing to the fourth round of World Cup qualifying.
A 31st minute penalty by forward Abas Atwi proved the difference as the 146th FIFA-ranked side produced a resolute defensive display to hold off their more illustrious opponents.
Fans ran on to the pitch at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium at the sound of the final whistle with some Lebanese players in tears after recording their first win over the former Asian champions.
The two sides are locked on 10 points from five matches in Group B of the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with Kuwait third on eight after they came from behind to beat United Arab Emirates 2-1 on Tuesday.

The top two sides in the group will reach the 10-team fourth round stage with South Korea hosting Kuwait in the final round of matches in February and Lebanon travelling to the UAE, who have lost all five games.
South Korea had beaten Lebanon 6-0 at home in September but they struggled to establish their normal high-tempo slick passing on the bumpy, hard pitch with the blustery wind also proving a factor.
Without their suspended captain and leading striker Park Chu-young, the Koreans fell behind after five minutes when Ali Al Saadi lashed home an unstoppable drive from six yards after he had blocked his team mate Roda Antar’s shot. The creative Koo Ja-cheol soon brought the Koreans level from the spot but his clumsy waist-high challenge on Mahmoud El Ali gave away the penalty that resulted in the winning goal, much to the delight of the 40,000 noisy home fans.

Iran 4, Indonesia 1
In Jakarta, Iran qualified for the next round with an emphatic 4-1 win over Indonesia.
Iran dominated from the kick-off, testing Indonesia’s keeper in the first minute and putting away their first goal in just the seventh courtesy of a sturdy strike from Milad Meydavoodi.
The Indonesians were already eliminated and Iran capitalised on some sloppy passing as they bagged two more in four first-half minutes through midfielder Mojtaba Jabbari and striker Gholamreza Rezaei.
Indonesia felt a slither of hope in the 44th minute, when Bambang Pamungkas headed a spectacular goal into the net past Iran’s ‘keeper Seyed Mahdi Rahmati to reduce the half-time deficit to 3-1.
But Iran crushed any lingering ambitions of a revival in the 73rd minute when captain Javad Nekounam converted a penalty.

Thailand are not out of contention after Saudi Arabia failed to get the win they needed at home to Oman to seal the runners-up spot.
The 0-0 draw in Riyadh left the Saudis on six points ahead of their trip to Australia with Oman third on five and Thailand last on four. Oman host Thailand in their final Group D match in February.
Their near neighbours and rivals Iran made it through to the fourth round after three goals in the opening 24 minutes set up a 4-1 victory over an experimental Indonesian side in Jakarta.
Iran’s passage from Group E was secured when 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar were held to a goalless draw by gulf rivals Bahrain at the air-conditioned Al Sadd Stadium in Doha.

North Korea 1, Japan 0
In Pyongyang, North Korea beat Japan 1-0 in a tempestuous World Cup qualifier, the result largely academic with the visiting Blue Samurai already through to the final qualifying round for 2014.
Pak Nam-chol headed the winner in the 50th minute, and the final whistle sparked wild celebrations at Pyongyang’s Kim Il-sung stadium despite the fact North Korea had already been eliminated.
“We didn’t do anything right for 90 minutes,” Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno said. “They dominated us. We were pathetic.”
Under the gaze of a giant portrait of North Korea’s ‘Eternal President’ Kim, Japan’s national anthem was drowned out by boos before a fractious Group C match.
Matches between the two invariably take place against a backdrop of political tensions over World War II, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens.

Japanese nationals are normally asked to refrain from travelling to the secretive communist state after sanctions were imposed following North Korea’s missile launch in 2006.
Japan’s players had received a typically frosty welcome on landing at Pyongyang on Monday. They were detained at customs for four hours while airport officials combed through their luggage.
Although a dead rubber, tempers frayed after Pak’s goal with Jong Il-gwan being sent off for a second bookable offence in the 77th minute after a nasty tackle on Atsuto Uchida.
Asian champions Japan, who have 10 points from five matches, lost for the first time in 17 games under Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni.
“They were very physical and made it very difficult,” the Italian said. “North Korea had failed to qualify for the last round so this will be some consolation for them.” Victory also gave North Korea payback for a 1-0 injury-time defeat in Japan in September. Uzbekistan will join Japan in the final round of qualifiers from Group C.

China 4, Singapore 0
In Singapore, Jose Antonio Camacho’s China were knocked out of contention despite thumping Singapore 4-0. Yu Hai broke the deadlock in the 41st minute before Li Weifeng struck in the second half and Zheng Zheng added a late double, even after China went a man down for a straight red card to Huang Bowen.
China needed two wins from their last two games and a vastly improved goal difference to stand any chance of reaching the final qualifying round, and they gave themselves the best possible chance at Jalan Besar Stadium.
Ex-Real Madrid coach Camacho admitted the result was “late for qualification” but he praised China’s more aggressive approach after last week’s demoralising defeat to Iraq.

“I think for this match we don’t have any pressure the same as the past few matches. This match I think we are more aggressive,” he said through an interpreter. “I think the most important thing is confidence. For this match, we got the goal first so that caused a different result.”
The visitors showed their intent when they went close in the first minute, and on 23 minutes Hao Junmin had a glorious chance to open China’s account but his vicious shot hurtled just over the bar.
Singapore had another close shave four minutes later when Yu ran clear of the defenders but the midfielder’s low effort was deflected out of play by goalkeeper Lionel Lewis.

Aleksandar Duric nearly shocked China in the 34th minute in one of Singapore’s rare attacks but he could not connect with a low rifle of a cross which skimmed just beyond his reach right in front of China’s goal.
But China went 1-0 up before half-time after some nifty passing found Yu clear in a Singapore penalty box packed with defenders, and he made no mistake from close range.
Singapore started the second half more aggressively and were unlucky not to equalise in the 53rd minute when the unmarked Duric, picked out by a cross into the Chinese box, saw his shot strike the woodwork. But two minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage as defender Li headed into the Singapore net from an inswinging corner.

Singapore ‘keeper Lewis denied midfielder Hao in the 61st minute, and five minutes later China’s evening was blemished with Huang’s red card for aiming a punch at Mustafic Fahrudin over a crunching tackle.
Despite going down to 10 men, China were determined to up their goal-count and Zheng outran his markers and slotted the ball past a diving Lewis in the 72nd minute.
And Zheng struck again in the 81st minute with a sweet strike which beat Lewis and buried itself in the right of Singapore’s goal.
However, China’s good work will be for nought if 2007 Asian champions Iraq can take one point from their last two games — against already qualified Jordan later on Tuesday, and eliminated Singapore on February 29. Singapore assistant coach V. Sundramoorthy praised the Chinese side as being “technically a very good team” but lamented the lack of local support.

“I think basically there were more Chinese supporters than Singapore supporters at the stands. I was thinking that in the future we need to perform to bring back the fans,” he said.

Uzbekistan 3, Tajikistan 0
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan beat 10-man Tajikistan 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
Uzbekistan dominated the game, in which Tajikistan were reduced to 10 men only with three minutes left when Eraj Rajabov was sent off for a foul against Alexander Geynrikh.
Sanjar Tursunov opened the scoring in the 34th minute, Odil Akhmedov hit the target from 35 meters in the 60th, and Geynrikh headed in a cross from the right in the 72nd.
The victory put Uzbekistan on top of Asia Group C with 13 points, three ahead of second-place Japan, which lost 1-0 to North Korea. Japan and Uzbekistan have already advanced to the next round of Asia qualifying.
Tajikistan have no points and are yet to score.


Asian World Cup Qualifying Results/Standings
SINGAPORE, Nov 15, (AFP): Asian zone third round qualifying results for the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday:
China 4 Singapore 0
Iraq 3 Jordan 1
Lebanon 2 South Korea 1
Kuwait 2 UAE 1
North Korea 1 Japan 0
Uzbekistan 3 Tajikistan 0
Australia 1 Thailand 0
Saudi Arabia 0 Oman 0
Iran 4 Indonesia 1
Qatar 0 Bahrain 0

Standings
Group A
P W D L F A Pts
Jordan 5 4 0 1 10 4 12
Iraq 5 4 0 1 7 3 12
China 5 2 0 3 7 5 6
Singapore 5 0 0 5 1 13 0
Group B
P W D L F A Pts
South Korea 5 3 1 1 12 4 10
Lebanon 5 3 1 1 8 10 10
Kuwait 5 2 2 1 8 7 8
UAE 5 0 0 5 5 12 0
Group C
P W D L F A Pts
Uzbekistan 5 4 1 0 7 1 13
P W D L F A Pts
Japan 5 3 1 1 14 2 10
North Korea 5 2 0 3 2 3 6
Syria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Group D
P W D L F A Pts
Australia 5 4 0 1 9 3 12
Saudi Arabia 5 1 3 1 4 3 6
Oman 5 1 2 2 1 6 5
Thailand 5 1 1 3 4 6 4
Group E
P W D L F A Pts
Iran 5 3 2 0 15 3 11
Qatar 5 2 3 0 8 3 9
Bahrain 5 1 3 1 3 7 6
Indonesia 5 0 0 5 3 16 0