AFC World Cup Qualifying

Today's results. Japan (18 pts) with the big result beating Saudi (19 pts). Socceroos (15 pts) concede 2nd goal 89th min in Oman for 2-2. They are in trouble now as they won’t want to go through AFC/Intercontinental (CONEMBOL) playoffs. Japan in Sydney in March now absolutely must win for them

Sth Korea and Iran both through to Qatar now. 2 games left (in March) with UAE 3 pts ahead of Lebanon, and 4 pts ahead of Iraq, in battle for 3rd and the AFC playoff in early June

Pool A
Lebanon  1 - 1  Iraq
Syria  0 - 2 Korea Republic 
Iran 1 - 0 UAE 

Pool B
Japan  2 - 0  Saudi Arabia
Vietnam  3 - 1  China PR
Oman 2 - 2 Australia 

Results
Australia  0 - 2  Japan
Korea Republic  2 - 0  Iran
Lebanon  0 - 3  Syria
Vietnam  0 - 1  Oman
China PR 1 - 1 Saudi Arabia  
Iraq  1 - 0 UAE   

https://us.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2022-qatar/3rd-round/r51885/

Sth Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia & Japan now all confirmed as going to Qatar.

Australia will finish 3rd in Pool B.

3rd spot in Pool A still up in the air - but mostly likely will be UAE (3rd currently), who lost to Iraq in neutral Riyadh. UAE are 3 points ahead of Lebanon (4th & 0-3 losers to Syria overnight, in a bad result for them).

Last round Lebanon travel to Iran (2nd), and UAE host Sth Korea (1st).

So Socceroos to play either UAE or Lebanon in June. Win that, and then is the 5th team from CONEMBOL (currently Peru) 

Don't forget about Iraq (4th) and one point behind UAE.

They've Syria last round which they will need to win, and if they do, then UAE will need to beat South Korea to stay ahead of them in 3rd. South Korea may however choose to give some of their younger/inexperienced players some game time, but that of course all remains to be seen.

How good it was to see the Suckeroos get done over by Japan too. What's that, one win in their last 6? 🤣🤣

Just saw the highlights of Aus v Japan. While you can only tell so much from a 5 min package, it looked like Japan could have scored half a dozen with a pinch more luck. 

Final round results.

Syria  1 - 1  Iraq
UAE  1 - 0  Korea Republic
Japan  1 - 1  Vietnam
Iran  2 - 0  Lebanon
Oman 2  - 0 China PR   
Saudi Arabia 1  - 0  Australia   

UAE (12 pts) with the crucial 1-0 win over Sth Korea. Iraq (9 pts) & Lebanon (6 pts) who both started the day with a chance to overtake UAE, miss out.

So Socceroos to play UAE in AFC playoff game (two 3rd placed teams), in Qatar in June. Basically a home game for UAE I imagine, with a lot of Emirati fans making the short trip to Qatar. Like the AWs playing China in Singers in 1982 was basically a home game for the Chinese.

I'm sure the AFC would love to have 3 Arab teams (Saudi, Qatar & UAE) at the World Cup.

UAE knocked Socceroos out of 2019 Asian Cup, with a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals. Tough game for Oztraylia. Win that, then is the 5th team from CONMEBOL. I'd definitely rather be Hay & the AWs.

https://us.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2022-qatar/3rd-round/r51885/

Stensness starting alongside Trent Sainsbury (both ex CCM) for Socceroos, in Saudi (dead rubber). Fornaroli up front with Hrustić
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/03/29/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/saudi-arabia/australia/3531842/

Looks like Arnold hasn't picked any ALM players to start. So unfortunately Melb City's Tilio & Metcalfe (both on the bench) will likely be reasonably fresh for Nix game on the weekend. Leckie not listed in Socceroos match day squad. Maclaren on his honeymoon??

Edit - finished 1-0 to Saudi. Tilio got on for 20 mins, but not Metcalfe.

So Saudi win Group B, by 1 point from Japan. Socceroos 3rd & into AFC playoff verus UAE.

UAE were fantastic a few years ago, I'd imagine are still pretty good though are down a few of their stars from back then.