November 22, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 11, 1428

SINGAPORE, Nov 21: Australia, Japan and South Korea booked their places at next year’s Beijing Olympic football tournament after draws with North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain respectively on Wednesday.

They join hosts China, who qualified automatically, as Asia’s four representatives at next year’s showpiece event.

Australia ground out a 1-1 draw against North Korea in Pyongyang while Japan held Saudi Arabia 0-0 in Tokyo and South Korea did the same with Bahrain in Seoul.

Australia’s men have never missed an Olympics since football was opened to professionals in 1988, but this is the first time they have qualified through Asia.

North Korea dominated in the opening half and the Aussies trailed to Pak Chol-Min’s 10th minute strike at the break.

But the Olyroos knuckled down and were back on level terms 20 minutes from time when skipper Mark Milligan looped a header into the net although it appeared to strike the hand of Adrian Leijer before crossing the line.

Syrian referee Muhsen Basma allowed the goal to stand despite Korean protests and it ended in a 1-1 draw allowing Australia to qualify at the expense of Iraq, who play a meaningless match against Lebanon later in the day.

In Tokyo, Japan only needed a point to confirm their place and they did what was required. Saudi Arabia had their chances in the first half, most notably when midfielder Saleh Abdullah Al Ghwainim fired a close-range shot which Japanese goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa gathered.

Five minutes later, forward Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sahlawi’s shot in the area was cleared by defender Hajime Hosogai.

But Japan completely dominated the second half and they were unlucky not to collect all three points.

Group B was a tighter affair with South Korea on 11 points to Bahrain’s 10, but the Koreans did enough at the Seoul World Cup Stadium to secure the point they needed, clinching their sixth straight Olympic berth.

Both sides had scoring chances but neither capitalised in a nervy game.

“It was a difficult game, and I feel fortunate to be through to the Olympics,” Korean manager Park Sung-Hwa said.

“We just have to get our offense sorted. Adding players and changing strategies will be the way to go.”

Bahrain manager Ivan Hucko though wasn’t impressed by South Korea. “I’ve known Korea as a speedy side, but they didn’t show any of that tonight,” he said. “It will be difficult for Korea to face strong nations from South America and Europe at the Olympics.”—AFP