DOHA: Saleh Al Shehri earned Saudi Arabia their second win in a row as Herve Renard’s side beat Oman 1-0 in Muscat on Tuesday to move level on points with Australia at the top of Group ‘B’ in Asia’s final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Al Shehri struck after a clever backheel from Fahad Al Muwallad three minutes before the break to take Saudi Arabia onto six points after two games behind the Austra­lians, who defeated Vietnam 1-0 courtesy of Rhyan Grant’s first-half winner earlier on Tuesday to become the first AFC nation to win 10 successive World Cup qualifiers.

Japan, surprise losers in their opening game against Oman last week, bounced back to beat China 1-0 in Doha thanks to Yuya Osako’s first half goal, moving Hajime Moriyasu’s side level with the Omanis on three points.

The defeat was China’s second in a row and leaves the east Asians bottom and without a point along with Vietnam.

In Group ‘A’, South Korea defeated Lebanon 1-0 at Suwon World Cup Stadium to pick up their first win of the stage, after 0-0 against Iraq five days earlier.

Iran top the group with six points after a 3-0 win over Iraq while the United Arab Emirates missed the chance to pull level with the Koreans when, after taking the lead, Bert van Marwijk’s side were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with Syria.

The top two from both six-team groups qualify automatically for the World Cup next year in Qatar. The third-place teams meet in a playoff and the winners face an opponent from another confederation.

Saudi Arabia and Oman were fresh from their opening wins but failed to come up with an inspired display at the Sultan Qaboos Stadium.

However, the Saudis, who beat Vietnam last week, went ahead in spectacular fashion. Al Muwallad deftly backheeled Salman Faraj’s lofted pass onto Al Shehri who blasted a low shot past Oman goalkeeper Faiyz al-Rusheidi.

Played behind closed doors at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi because of Covid-19 restrictions, Australia struggled to get past Vietnam’s disciplined defence before Grant’s header in the 43rd minute from an Ajdin Hrustic cross broke the deadlock.

It was Grant’s first international goal and ended Vietnam’s 17-match unbeaten streak at home.

Vietnam are making their first appearance at this stage of qualifying but had chances, including a VAR review for a possible penalty against Grant’s handball before the visitors took the lead.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, Japan were cle­arly the dominant side at the Khalifa International Sta­dium in Doha but had to wait until the 43rd minute before Osako volleyed in Junya Ito’s cross from the right wing.

In the late match at the Khalifa International Stadium, Iran underlined their World Cup credentials with an impressive 3-0 win over neighbours Iraq.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh gave Dragan Skocic’s team the perfect start when he rose high to meet Mehdi Taremi’s cross, powering home a third minute header that goalkeeper Fahad Talib could not keep out.

Taremi then turned from provider to scorer in the 69th minute when he finished off a counterattack by slipping the ball between Talib’s legs.

Ali Gholizadeh added a third when he stroked the ball into the corner of the net in the 90th minute.

South Korea recovered from the late withdrawal of Son Heung-min to defeat Lebanon in Suwon. The Tottenham Hotspur star injured a calf in training on Monday and was deemed unfit to play.

Without Son, South Korea struggled against Lebanon goalkeeper Mostafa Matar. The deadlock was broken only on the hour, when Kwon Chang-hoon shot past Matar from close range to keep Korea on track for a 10th successive World Cup appearance.

Ali Mabkhout hit the 77th goal of his international career to give the UAE the lead with 11 minutes on the clock, capitalising on an error by goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma to strike in Amman.

But defensive slackness from the UAE allowed Mahmoud Al Baher to smash home Syria’s 64th minute equaliser as Nizar Mahrous’ side picked up their first point of the campaign.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021