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Qatar's Mesaad al-Hamad (right) vies with Australia's
Qatar's Mesaad al-Hamad (right) vies with Australia's Tim Cahill - Photo
Qatar's Mesaad al-Hamad (right) vies with Australia's Tim Cahill - Sunday June 7, 04:34 AM
Qatar's Mesaad al-Hamad (right) vies with Australia's Tim Cahill during their World Cup 2010: Asian qualifying match at al-Sadd stadium in Doha, on June 6. The match ended in a goalless draw.
South Korea's players celebrate after scoring a goal against the UAE - Photo
South Korea's players celebrate after scoring a goal against the UAE - Photo
South Korea's players celebrate after scoring a goal against the UAE - Sunday June 7, 04:34 AM
during their World Cup 2010: Asian qualifying match in Dubai, on June 6. SKorea won 2-0.
Australia national football players Marco Bresciano
Australia national football players Marco Bresciano (front) and Harry Kewell - Photo
Australia national football players Marco Bresciano (front) and Harry Kewell - Sunday June 7, 04:34 AM
Australia national football players Marco Bresciano (front) and Harry Kewell embrace at the end of their team's 0-0 draw with Qatar during their World Cup 2010 Asian Group A qualifying football match at al-Sadd stadium in Doha, on June 6. Australia booked the ticket to the 2010 World Cup as they remained unbeaten after six games to sit alongside Japan on 14 points.
World Cup qual - World: Trio secure finals berths
Japan, South Korea and Australia became the first teams to advance to the 2010 World Cup finals, leaving just one direct qualification place still up for grabs from Asia.
Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Group One and were the first team through for the second time in a row, having also set the pace for the 2006 finals in Germany.
South Korea, the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists, outclassed already-eliminated United Arab Emirates 2-0 in their Group Two affair and reached the tournament for the seventh successive time.
Australia advanced via the Asian route for the first time after ditching Oceania two years ago.
They were content to play out a goalless draw with Qatar in Doha to maintain their unbeaten run and share the lead with Japan on 14 points, trailed by Bahrain (7), Qatar (5) and Uzbekistan (4), still in with a chance of a play-off spot.
The top two in each of the two groups qualify directly for South Africa, with the two third-place teams meeting to decide who goes through to a play-off to take on Oceania champions New Zealand.
"They put us under pressure, we knew that, but we thought they could only do that for 20 minutes and they did it for almost 90," Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said of their opponents.
"The World Cup is a great, great event and I'm already looking forward to going there."
Shinji Okazaki scored a crucial but clumsy early goal for Japan against Uzbekistan in Tashkent to guarantee the Blue Samurai a place in South Africa with two games to spare.
North Korea missed their chance of securing at least a play-off berth in Group Two when they were held to a goalless draw with Iran. The draw was a setback for Iran, whose chances of qualification now appear slim.
In Dubai, South Korea were ahead after only five minutes against UAE when Park Chu-young chested down a cross in a crowded area and coolly prodded home from six metres.
The visitors were always in command and were two up on 37 minutes after a comical goalkeeping blunder by Majed Nasser.
Nasser tried to keep the ball from going for a corner but only pushed the ball into the path of a surprised Ki Sung-yueng who slotted casually into an empty net.
South Korea lead the group with 14 points from six matches, followed by North Korea, who last reached the World Cup in 1966, on 11 points. Saudi Arabia are third on 10 points, with Iran fourth on seven.
In Tashkent, Okazaki shot tamely at the Uzbek keeper from close range nine minutes into the game but somehow managed to head the loose ball into the net as he fell to the floor.
Japan looked jittery as the match went into stoppage time and they almost threw away their chances of early qualification, with Islom Tuhtahujaev and Server Djeparov coming agonisingly close from long range.
The next matches across Asia take place on Wednesday, when Bahrain get a chance to cement a play-off place and Saudi Arabia push for an automatic Group Two berth.
World Cup qual - Ireland grind out point in Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland earned a hard fought 1-1 draw against Bulgaria in Sofia to massively boost their chances of finishing at least second in World Cup Qualification Group 8.
Richard Dunne was the hero for the Irish as he scored the opening goal of the game and then played magnificently well at the heart of the Irish defence.
Dunne's opener came in the 24th minute but was cancelled out four minutes later when Dimitar Telkiyski pounced on a Kevin Kilbane error.
Bulgaria then dominated possession in the second-half but struggled to create chances against a well-oiled Irish defence led superbly by Dunne.
The result means that Ireland maintain a five point gap over Bulgaria in third and move to within one point of group leaders Italy. However, both the Italians and the Bulgarians do have one game in hand over Giovanni Trapattoni's side.
Ireland enjoyed a really bright start to the match with Stephen Hunt and Caleb Folan both getting early attempts on target.
Robbie Keane nearly got on the end of a Dunne flick on too but Dimitar Berbatov flashed a header just over the bar in the 19th minute to give Ireland a little warning sign.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 24th minute when Hunt won a free kick down the left after some good work by Folan.
The Reading man then dusted himself off to take the free kick himself and he found the head of Dunne who was left inexplicably free inside the box to power a header home (pictured).
Ireland nearly surrendered that lead moments later when a defensive mix-up allowed Martin Petrov to fire over but the hosts were level just four minutes later as Kilbane misread the flight of a ball and let it drop behind him; Telkiyski then took full advantage to storm clear before slotting past Shay Given with ease to level the match.
After Bulgaria levelled matters Ireland's tactics were pure catenaccio as they willing surrendered the battle for possession and instead decided to put two walls of four behind the ball.
It wasn't pretty but its effectiveness cannot be disputed given the fact that Shay Given barely had a save to make.
Bulgaria just could not unlock the Irish defence, their long range shooting was poor, and the one time Berbatov did get behind the Irish defence in the second half his control let him down.
With 15 minutes to go Ireland took off captain and record goalscorer Robbie Keane for the more physical Leon Best, and another substitute, Aiden McGeady, nearly nicked an unlikely winner in stoppage time as he flashed a long range effort from distance just wide.
However, in the second-half Ireland were never really looking for that win; they were clearly happy to take a point and strong organisation at the back ensured they went home with the prize they sought.
Cyprus 2-2 Montenegro
Cyprus were held to a 2-2 draw by Montenegro in the group's other game after second half substitute Dejan Damjanovic struck twice for the visitors.
Cyprus opened the scoring with a header by Michael Konstantinou in the 13th minute and made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime through Chrysostomos Michail.
But Damjanovic, brought on as a sub for Nikola Drincic, scored after a scramble outside the Cypriots' goal in the 65th minute and equalised 12 minutes later with a well-placed shot.
Montenegro captain Mirko Vucinic should have secured all three points in the 75th minute but his penalty bounced off goalkeeper Michael Morphis.
Both teams continue to struggle near the foot of the group with Cyprus on five points and Montenegro on four.
World Cup qual - Europe: Netherlands qualify
Two early goals put the Netherlands on track for a 2-1 win against Iceland and secure their qualification for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
Holding midfielder Nigel de Jong (pictured) headed home the opening goal after eight minutes following a fine cross from Rafael van der Vaart.
Mark van Bommel doubled the lead seven minutes later with a well placed shot from just outside the penalty area.
Kristjan Sigurdsson pulled one back for the home side two minutes before time with a close range header.
Netherlands clinched the top position in group nine with 18 points after six matches, 11 more then second placed Scotland, and are the first European country to book their finals place.
The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.
Macedonia and fellow strugglers Norway drew 0-0 in their World Cup group nine qualifier.
Macedonia's new coach Mirsad Jonuz started with three strikers but Goran Pandev's early 10-metre effort was blocked by Brede Hengeland.
Pandev brought a good save from keeper Jon Knudsen in the 29th minute but the game's best chance fell to Norway's John Carew on 40 minutes.
The Aston Villa striker was alone in front of the Macedonian goal but Jane Nikoloski saved superbly.
In the second half, Macedonia piled on the pressure but managed only two serious shots, both late on - a Pandev volley from 10 metres and a Goce Sedloski's free kick, both saved by Knudsen.
GROUP ONE
Denmark beat struggling rivals Sweden 1-0 with a first-half goal from Thomas Kahlenberg to move three points clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group One.
Kahlenberg took advantage of a mistake from Sweden defender Mikael Nilsson midway through the first half to fire the ball past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
The win put the Danes on 16 points from six matches, three ahead of Hungary in second place.
Things are looking less promising for the Swedes, who missed a penalty in the Denmark game and are down in fourth place with six points from five matches.
Sweden were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute but failed to capitalise as Kim Kallstrom's weak effort was easily saved by Thomas Sorensen easily saved.
After taking the lead, the Danes should have made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when Dennis Rommedahl missed an open goal from less than a metre out.
Portugal needed an injury-time goal from defender Bruno Alves to beat Albania 2-1 and keep alive their hopes of qualifying.
Portugal are third in Group One with nine points, behind leaders Denmark on 16 and Hungary with 13 and their last-gasp win in Albania must be followed by victories in their three remaining matches for them to top the standings.
The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.
Portugal had taken the lead with a Hugo Almeida header in the 27th minute after Jose Bosingwa surged forward to supply the cross. Albania equalised just two minutes later when striker Bogdani beat Bruno Alves in the air to head in Skela's cross.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz replaced ineffective midfielder Luis Boa Morte with Simao Sabrosa at halftime and Portugal created more chances in the second half.
But poor finishing meant they had to wait until the 93rd minute for Bruno Alves to grab the priceless winner.
GROUP THREE
Marek Cech scored a first-half double to lead Slovakia to a 7-0 victory over San Marino in their Group Three World Cup qualifier.
The win put Slovakia, which became an independent state in 1993 and has never reached the World Cup finals, top of the group with 15 points, two ahead of Northern Ireland.
Defender Cech scored his first goal after just three minutes with a low shot before Peter Pekarik put the home side two goals up in the 12th minute with a left-foot drive from distance. Cech added his second from close range in the 32nd.
Miroslav Stoch fired home 10 minutes before halftime and midfielder Jan Kozak made it 5-0 by lashing a shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area in the 43rd minute.
Martin Jakubko headed home in the 63rd and newcomer Lubos Hanzel scored his first international goal five minutes later.
GROUP SEVEN
Serbia stayed firmly on course to reach the 2010 World Cup after an early Nenad Milijas penalty gave them a 1-0 home win over Austria in their Group Seven qualifier.
The midfielder steered his spot kick past Austria goalkeeper Michael Gspurning, who had brought down Marko Pantelic after giving away the ball with a poor clearance from a back-pass.
The result left Serbia top of the group with 15 points from six matches, five more than France who have a game in hand.
Third-placed Lithuania, who have nine points from seven games, lost ground after a 1-0 home defeat by Romania, who are level on seven points with Austria.
The group winners qualify for the finals directly while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a play-off.
The Serbians did just enough to earn their win but endured some nervy moments, as the Austrians made a lively start with Manuel Ortlechner shooting wide from a good position in the second minute.
But their early initiative ended abruptly in the seventh minute, with Gspurning causing a comedy of errors with his miskicked clearance that led to the penalty.
The 50,000 fans held their breath as Marc Janko missed Austria's best two chances to snatch an equaliser.
The towering striker rattled the crossbar with a venomous 25-metre volley in the 76th minute before Vladimir Stojkovic denied him with a late save from close range.
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