Japan made to wait; South Korea leave it late

Posted Wednesday, March 27, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Japan will have to wait to book their place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after suffering a shock 2-1 loss to Jordan in Tuesday's Asian qualifier.

Heading into their game at the King Abdullah Stadium needing only a draw to qualify from Group B, the Samurai Blue found themselves trailing at the break after Khalil Bani Attiah handed the hosts the lead on the stroke of halftime with a firm header.

Right on the hour mark, Jordan doubled their advantage when Ahmad Hayel went on a terrific run down the right and charged into the box before firing past Eiji Kawashima, although Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa pulled one back just nine minutes later.

Japan then had an excellent chance to equalise just three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Atsuto Uchida was fouled in the box, but Yasuhito Endo could only look on in horror as his firmly-struck effort was pushed wide by Amer Sabbah.

Elsewhere in the group, Australia had to come from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw at home to Oman.

Abdul Aziz Mubarak had put Oman ahead early on and Mile Jedinak's second-half own goal put the Socceroos in great trouble, but they somehow managed to find a way out of it.

A trademark header from Tim Cahill reduced the deficit seven minutes after the break, before Brett Holman struck five minutes from time to earn his side a share of the spoils.

In Group A, Hamburg starlet Song Heung-min scored in the sixth minute of injury time to hand Korea Republic a last-gasp 2-1 win over Qatar that keeps them in the top two automatic qualifying spots.

Following a goalless first half at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, reigning AFC Player of the Year Lee Keun-ho opened the scoring on the hour mark when he found the back of the net with an expertly-guided header, but Khalfan Ibrahim equalised just three minutes later thanks to an excellent solo effort from Khalfan Ibrahim.

But in the 96th minute, Son scored what proved to be the winner when he pounced quickest after the ball had come back off the bar to stab home from close range and hand the South Koreans all three points.

Uzbekistan remain top of the group after a recording a gritty 1-0 win at home to Lebanon, courtesy of Server Djeparov's 63rd-minute winner.

Tuesday's 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (AFC) Results

Group A
Korea Republic 2-1 Qatar
Uzbekistan 1-0 Lebanon

Group B
Australia 2-2 Oman
Jordan 2-1 Japan