Uzbekistan qualifies for FIFA World Cup for the first time after draw against UAE
Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Thursday as a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates confirmed the nation's progress to next year's finals as Australia and Jordan moved to the verge of booking berths in North America.
Aziz Behich's 90th-minute strike earned the Socceroos a 1-0 win over already-qualified Japan in Perth in Group C to keep Tony Popovic's side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, which won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa.
Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia's celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday.
But Australia's vastly superior goal difference means it can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finisher behind the Japanese.
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Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan's hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman in Muscat to leave Jamal Sellami's side waiting for the result from South Korea's clash with Iraq in Basra later on Thursday in Group B.
Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation its first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev had hit the crossbar with a 54th-minute header for the visitor, but it was Yusupov who frustrated the Cosmin Olaroiu-coached Emiratis, which needed to win to maintain its hopes of automatic qualification.
The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A.
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