June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

BANGKOK, June 14: North Korea joined regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and South Korea in booking places in the final round of Asia’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

Serbian-born Hong Yong-jo scored either side of halftime to give North Korea a 2-0 win over Jordan and move them into the next round, allowing their archrivals from the South to finish at least second in Group 3 with two matches left.

Saudi Arabia, who have reached the finals four times, beat Singapore 2-0 to take the second slot in Group 4. They are sure to be joined by Group 2 side Japan, who overpowered Thailand 3-0 in Bangkok to edge closer to the next round.

Japan all but guaranteed their place with goals from Tulio, Yuji Nakazawa and Kengo Nakamura, and will progress later on Saturday if Oman fail to beat Group 2 frontrunners Bahrain in Manama.

Oman need two unlikely and sizable victories to overhaul Japan, who have a far superior goals difference.

Asian Cup holders Iraq pulled off another late escape, beating China 2-1 in a must-win match in Tianjin to stay in contention in Group 1 following their nightmare start to the campaign.

Zhou Haibin put China ahead on 33 minutes but Iraq fought hard and found an equaliser close to halftime through Emad Mohammed.

Playmaker Nashat Akram hit the winner on 66 minutes to take Iraq’s points total to seven, the same as leaders Australia and Qatar, who play later in Doha.

The loss was the second in a row for goal-shy China, who are now eliminated after winning just one point and scoring only two goals.

Abdoh Autef scored in the 37th minute and Achmad Al Fraidi netted 14 minutes from time in Singapore to put the Saudis in round four along with Uzbekistan, whose perfect record sent them through last week.

Japan were buoyed by a mostly Japanese crowd in Bangkok and punished Thailand with solid counter-attacking and well-worked set pieces.

They went ahead after 23 minutes when Tulio leapt high in the air to head home a cross from Yasuhito Endo, who created the second goal in the 38th minute when he set up Nakazawa’s powerful header.

Kengo Nakamura sealed the win with two minutes remaining when he broke free in the area and blasted into the bottom right corner.

Bahrain have the chance to progress if they secure a draw with Oman. South Korea take on Turkmenistan in Ashgabat. A maximum of five teams can qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.—Reuters