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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Uzbekistan and Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time, South Korea also clinches
Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for the men's World Cup for the first time on Thursday (June 5, 2025), while South Korea sealed its 11th straight appearance. A 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi was enough for Uzbekistan to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group A behind Iran with a game to spare. The Central Asian team and fans celebrated together at the end and had goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov to thank for a number of important saves. As well as the six automatic qualifiers from Asia, the UAE and Qatar, who defeated the already-qualified Iran 1-0, will finish third and fourth and advance to the next stage, where six teams will compete for two more places at the 2026 World Cup. In Group B, South Korea won 2-0 in Iraq to clinch its place. The Taeguk Warriors were helped by Ali Al-Hamadi's first-half red card, given to the Ipswich Town striker for a high kick. Kim Jin-gyu put Korea ahead just after the hour, and the victory was sealed by Oh Hyeon-gyu eight minutes from the end. It was also enough for Jordan, which earlier beat Oman 3-0 to clinch a place in the top two. All three goals were scored by Ali Olwan. The Palestinian team stayed in contention for the top four with a 2-0 win over Kuwait. Group C saw China eliminated after a 1-0 loss to Indonesia in Jakarta. A first-half penalty from Ole Romeny was enough to keep out China, whose sole appearance was in 2002 Indonesia, coached by Patrick Kluivert, took the lead just before the break when Romeny converted from the penalty spot. Elsewhere in the group, a last-minute goal from Aziz Behich gave Australia a 1-0 win over Japan, already qualified, in Perth to put the Socceroos within touching distance of a sixth straight World Cup appearance. In the 90th minute, Riley McGree broke free down the right and pulled back for Behich to curl home to bring Perth Stadium to its feet and give Australia its first win over Japan in 16 years. 'It hasn't sunk in just yet but when the final whistle went it was a great feeling,' Behich said. 'It was a tough game and we had to grind it out. It's been a long campaign and we have worked so hard.' Australia has to avoid a five-goal defeat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to be sure after the west Asian team won 2-0 in Bahrain. (AP) UNG
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time
Jordan have qualified for the World Cup for the first time at the 11th attempt after South Korea's 2-0 win over Iraq confirmed the west Asian nation's progress to the finals. Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick in Jordan's 3-0 win over Oman earlier on Thursday before South Korea's win in Basra confirmed the country's progress to the 2026 finals in North America.
The Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time
(Reuters) -Jordan have qualified for the World Cup for the first time at the 11th attempt after South Korea's 2-0 win over Iraq confirmed the west Asian nation's progress to the finals. Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick in Jordan's 3-0 win over Oman earlier on Thursday before South Korea's win in Basra confirmed the country's progress to the 2026 finals in North America. (Editing by Ken Ferris)
Reuters
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Koushki stars to take Esteghlal into Asian Champions League knockout rounds
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Iran's Esteghlal qualified for the last 16 of the Asian Champions League Elite when a 2-0 win over Al-Rayyan of Qatar on Tuesday ensured the Tehran-based side advanced at the expense of compatriots and bitter rivals Persepolis. Substitute Alireza Koushki set up Mohammad Azadi's 46th minute opener and scored Esteghlal's second 23 minutes later to take his side up to sixth in the 12-team west Asian standings, forcing Persepolis out of the eight qualification places. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal ensured they finished top of the standings with a 2-0 win over Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates and Jorge Jesus' side will take on eighth-placed Pakhtakor in the next round over two legs in March. The completion of the league phase means the lineup for the knockout rounds for the west Asian half of the draw is set, with Saudi Pro League clubs in the first three spots in the table. Second-placed Al-Ahli will take on Al-Rayyan, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr face Esteghlal. Qatar's Al Sadd will meet Al-Wasl, with games to be played on March 3 or 4 and the return matches held one week later. The quarter-finals, semis and final will be played in a centralised format featuring clubs from west and east Asia in Saudi Arabia in late April and early May. Esteghlal went into their meeting with already-qualified hosts Al-Rayyan knowing a draw would be enough to climb into the top eight and Sohrab Bakhtiarzadeh's side went in front soon after halftime. Koushki drove towards the byline as the Al-Rayyan defence hesitated and Azadi forced his team mate's cross over the line with his chest. The Iranians doubled the lead in the 69th minute when they launched a counter-attack from deep, Koushki taking advantage of inept attempts to dispossess him by Andre Amaro and Julien De Sart to score past Paulo Victor. Al-Hilal secured top spot with victory over Al-Wasl, their seventh win in eight matches as Jesus' side finished with an unbeaten record in the group phase. Marcos Leonardo scored from close range in the 13th minute and captain Salem Al-Dawsari added the second four minutes into the second half after a return pass from Abdullah Al-Hamddan.
