Football News : Asian WCQ: Socceroos progress via narrow win

Australia advanced to the next round of Asian World Cup qualifying on Tuesday after
edging past Thailand in Bangkok.

GettyImagesBrett Holman celebrates his late winner against Thailand

The Socceroos required a point from their Group D encounter at the Supachalasai
Stadium but managed all three courtesy of a 1-0 win. Brett Holman grabbed the
only goal with 14 minutes to go to ensure Australia will finish top of the
pool.

It was a far from convincing display from Holger Osieck's men, though. Thailand
were the better side throughout with the visitors forced to play on the break.

Suree Sukha had the Thais best chance but blasted a close-range effort over the
bar after 35 minutes.
And the hosts were made to pay when Brett Emerton crossed for Holman to nod
home.

Zheng Zheng scored twice as China kept their faint hopes of progression from
Group A alive with a 4-0 victory in Singapore.

Yu Hai and Li Weifeng put the visitors in control and Zheng added two late
goals, shortly after China had Huang Bowen dismissed for punching the hosts'
Mustafic Fahrudin.

Lebanon edged closer to qualification from Group B with a 2-1 win over South
Korea.

An Ali Al Saadi strike and an Abbas Atwi penalty were enough for the home side,
either side of a Ja-Cheol-koo spot-kick.

Already-qualified Japan lost 1-0 to North Korea in Group C - Nam-Chol Pak
scoring the 50th-minute winner - while Uzbekistan thrashed Tajikistan 3-0 with
two goals from Alexander Geynrikh.

Iran all but secured their place in the next stage with a 4-1 victory at Group
E whipping boys Indonesia.

Milad Meydavoudi gave Iran the lead in the seventh minute, and Mojtaba Jabbari
and Gholamreza Rezaei added two more in a four-minute span midway through the
first half.

Indonesia captain Bambang Pamungkas pulled one back just before the break, but
Iran captain Javad Nekounam converted a penalty 17 minutes form time.

Iraq confirmed their progression to the fourth round as they came from behind
to beat Jordan 3-1 in Group E.

Jordan, who are already through to the next stage following their home defeat
of Singapore on Friday, took the lead through Hassan Abdel Fattah in the 17th
minute. However, Nashat Akram's second-half brace and a goal by Qusay Munir earned Iraq
the win which moves them to the next qualification stage.

In Group D, Qatar failed to build on their 4-0 thrashing of Indonesia as they
drew 0-0 with Bahrain in Doha.

Saudi Arabia's match against Oman was also goalless.