- Giants enjoyed goal-scoring sprees in Asia
- IR Iran’s 14-0 win was the biggest of the matchday
- Iraq prevailed in their first home fixture since 2011
Once again the gap between Asia's underdogs and its big boys was highlighted in Thursday's Matchday 3 of the second round of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Scoring sprees characterised the night as the giants ran riot. The likes of IR Iran, Japan, Australia, China PR, Korea Republic and United Arab Emirates all won big at home while Qatar, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia bounced back to winning form. Join FIFA.com as we take a closer look at the action across the continent.
Matchday 3 results
(10 October)
Group A: Syria 2-1 Maldives, China PR 7-0 Guam
Group B: Australia 5-0 Nepal, Jordan 0-0 Kuwait
Group C: IR Iran 14-0 Cambodia, Iraq 2-0 Hong Kong
Group D: Saudi Arabia 3-0 Singapore, Uzbekistan 5-0 Yemen
Group E: Oman 3-0 Afghanistan, Bangladesh 0-2 Qatar
Group F: Japan 6-0 Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic 7-0 Myanmar
Group G: United Arab Emirates 5-0 Indonesia, Vietnam 1-0 Malaysia
Group H: Lebanon 2-1 Turkmenistan, Korea Republic 8-0 Sri Lanka
Asian World Cup qualifying highlights (10 October 2019)
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Jamie Maclaren of Australia celebrates after scoring his third goal against Nepal
10 Oct 2019
Jamie Maclaren of Australia celebrates after scoring his third goal during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Asian Qualifiers match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Thursday, October 10, 2019
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Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates their third goal
10 Oct 2019
TEHRAN, IRAN - OCTOBER 10: Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates their third goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran v Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Wu Lei (C) of China attempts a bicycle kick
10 Oct 2019
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 10, 2019 -- Wu Lei (C) of China competes during the group A match between China and Guam at the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Guangzhou, capital of south China s Guangdong Province, Oct. 10, 2019
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Aziz Behich of Australia in action against Nepal
10 Oct 2019
Aziz Behich of Australia in action during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Asian Qualifiers match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Thursday, October 10, 2019.
© imago images
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Harry Souttar of the Socceroos celebrates
10 Oct 2019
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Harry Souttar of the Socceroos celebrates scoring a goal with team mates during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Jamie Maclaren of the Socceroos controls the ball
10 Oct 2019
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Jamie Maclaren of the Socceroos controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Jamie Maclaren of Australia scores his third goal against Nepal
10 Oct 2019
Jamie Maclaren of Australia scores his third goal during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Asian Qualifiers match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Thursday, October 10, 2019.
© imago images
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Japan pose ahead of face Mongolia
10 Oct 2019
Japan's national football team pose for a team group, Mannschaftsbild, Totale photo on Oct. 10, 2019, ahead of a match against Mongolia, an Asia qualifier for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in Saitama near Tokyo.
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Japan's Takumi Minamino celebrates after heading in the opening goal
10 Oct 2019
Japan's Takumi Minamino celebrates after heading in the opening goal during the first half of a Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Mongolia in Saitama near Tokyo on Oct. 10, 2019.
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China fans cheer prior to kick-off
10 Oct 2019
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 10, 2019 -- Fans of China cheer prior to the group A match between China and Guam at the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Guangzhou, capital of south China s Guangdong Province, Oct. 10,
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Players of China line up prior to the group A match between China and Guam
10 Oct 2019
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 10, 2019 -- Players of China line up prior to the group A match between China and Guam at the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Guangzhou, capital of south China s Guangdong Province, Oct. 10, 2019.
© imago images
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Yang Xu of China celebrates
10 Oct 2019
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 10, 2019 -- Yang Xu of China celebrates during the group A match between China and Guam at the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Guangzhou, capital of south China s Guangdong Province
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Mohammad Mohebbi of Iran (L) and Orn Champolin of Cambodia in action
10 Oct 2019
TEHRAN, IRAN - OCTOBER 10: Mohammad Mohebbi of Iran (L) and Orn Champolin of Cambodia in action during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran v Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan of Iran celebrates their fourth goal
10 Oct 2019
TEHRAN, IRAN - OCTOBER 10: Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan of Iran celebrates their fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran v Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Female football fans show their support ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran and Cambodia
10 Oct 2019
TEHRAN, IRAN - OCTOBER 10: Female football fans show their support ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran and Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
The match
Syria 2-1 Maldives
Goals: Omar Al Soma 26’, 60’; Ali Ashfaq 70’
With big wins aplenty throughout the night, it was Syria's narrow 2-1 victory against Maldives in Group A that raised many eyebrows. Playing the home game in neutral Dubai, the Syrians went into the match as the clear favourites considering that they are 68 places above the visitors in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking. The opponents had, however, proved capable of upsets in the qualifying campaign in the past, notably holding Korea Republic to a goalless draw on the road to Germany 2006.
Syria dominated the proceedings with captain Omar Al Soma striking in each half to give them a 2-0 lead inside 60 minutes. With the hosts looking on course to victory, however, they were reduced to ten men with defender Ahmed Al Salih seeing a red card. Capitalising on the numerical advantage, the Maldives quickly pulled one back through Ali Ashfaq. However, an equaliser didn't come, with the Syrians striving to keep the rivals at bay and run their one-goal lead to victory.
In the group’s other game, in-form forward Yang Xu scored four times as Marcello Lippi's China cruised past Guam 7-0 at home. The results now see Syria and China level on points with the Chinese on top courtesy of their superior goal difference.
The other attractions
In Group B, hosts Australia put five unanswered goals past Nepal at home for their second successive win. Striker Jamie Maclaren completed a hat-trick and young defender Harry Souttar struck in his international debut as Graham Arnold's Socceroos stayed perfect in this campaign. The result, coupled with Jordan’s goalless draw with Kuwait in the other match, saw Australia move clear with a two-point cushion at the top.
IR Iran moved clear at the top of Group C after thumping Cambodia 14-0 at home. Indeed, Marc Wilmots' side showed the visitors no mercy. Star striker Karim Ansarifard scored four times and Sardar Azmoun completed a hat-trick as they produced the matchday's biggest win. In the other match, Iraq registered their first win by defeating visiting Hong Kong 2-0 to move to second place level with Bahrain on points.
In Group D, both Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan bounced back to win at home respectively as they put their campaigns back on track. The former beat Singapore 3-0 to move to the top of the section and the latter swept past Yemen 5-0 to register their first win under new boss Vadim Abramov.
Group E front-runners Qatar cemented their place at the top by overcoming hosts Bangladesh 2-0. Forwards Yusuf Abdurisag and Karim Boudiaf scored in each half as the visitors got past the resilient home side. Oman, meanwhile, defeated Afghanistan 3-0 at home to maintain pressure on the Qataris, trailing by merely a point.
Group F favourites Japan followed up their 2-0 opening win over Myanmar with a 6-0 resounding victory against Mongolia at home. Goals from six different players, including Daichi Kamada, gave Hajime Moriyasu's side a second consecutive win. The result moved the Samurai Blue to the top of the table level with Tajikistan on points. In the section’s other match, Edgar Bernhardt scored a hat-trick as Kyrgyz Republic hammered Myanmar 7-0 at home for their first win in this campaign, and significantly, their biggest ever victory in international competition.
In Group G, United Arab Emirates leapfrogged Thailand to the top of the table by defeating Indonesia 5-0 at home, with ace striker Ali Mabkhout completing a hat-trick. In the other match, Nguyen Quang Hai struck the only goal as Vietnam defeated Malaysia 1-0 at home for their first win in this campaign.
In Group H, towering forward Kim Shinwook struck four times and captain Son Heungmin completed a brace as Korea Republic ran out 8-0 victors against Sri Lanka. The win moved the Taeguk Warriors level with Korea DPR on points at the top, making the two sides’ crunch tie in five days a mouthwatering one. The group’s other match saw Lebanon clinch their first win, defeating Turkmenistan 2-1.
Did you know?
While IR Iran's 14-0 victory stood out as the biggest of the matchday, the double-digit scoreline paled in comparison to their 19-0 victory against Guam in a qualifier for Korea/Japan 2002, which remains as Team Melli's all-time biggest win.