Kuwait WC hopes end as Australia advance to 3rd round
Saudi Arabia close in on 3rd round spot
KUWAIT CITY, June 12, (Agencies): Kuwait hopes of advancing to the third round of Asian World Cup were ended after drawing 0-0 with
Jordan at Jaber International Stadium.
The first half lacked intensity as both sides created little chances.
The turning point of the game came in 60th minute after Kuwait defender was sent off for two yellow cards.
The visitors were denied the maximum points by outstanding goalkeeping from Khaled Al-Rashid.
10-man Kuwait nearly broke the deadlock in closing stage of the game but striker Youssef Nasser missed that golden opportunity.
With this result Jordan stayed second with 14 points while Kuwait third with 11 points.
Australia became the fourth Asian team to advance to the third stage of World Cup qualifying after beating Nepal 3-0.
Goals from Mathew Leckie, Fran Karacic and Martin Boyle in Kuwait City earned Australia Group B honors and a seventh win out of seven matches. The Australians joined Japan, South Korea and Syria in the next round, scheduled to start in September.
Only the eight group winners progress along with the four best second-placed teams.
China kept alive their hopes of adding to their sole World Cup appearance in 2002 by beating the Maldives 5-0 in Sharjah. Victory against Group A winners Syria on Tuesday will be enough to send China into the third round.
The team’s form is good. In three games since the second round resumed on May 30, China have taken nine points, scored 14 goals and conceded none. But Syria will be a tougher test.
SOCCER
Iran thrashed Cambodia 10-0 but will still have to win against Group C leaders Iraq - which defeated Hong Kong 1-0 to stay two points clear at the top - on Tuesday to finish first.
There will be another showdown between first and second in Group G. Vietnam stayed two points clear of the United Arab Emirates with a 2-1 win over Malaysia. UAE’s 5-0 victory over Indonesia means victory over Vietnam on Tuesday will be enough for first place.
In Group D, Saudi Arabia scored three goals in the last six minutes to defeat Singapore 3-0 in Riyadh, a result that left the host needing on Tuesday just a point against Uzbekistan, which beat Yemen 1-0, to finish first.
Italy lead Group A with three points. Wales and Switzerland have one point each.
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen was taken to a hospital Saturday after collapsing on the field during a match at the European Championship.
The governing body of European soccer said Eriksen has been stabilized and the Danish soccer federation said he was awake.
“Christian Eriksen is awake and is undergoing further examinations at Rigshospitalet,” the Danish federation wrote on Twitter.
The Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland was suspended after Eriksen was given urgent medical attention on the field near the end of the first half.
He was treated for about 10 minutes after collapsing. He was then carried off on a stretcher. UEFA then announced the game had been suspended “due to a medical emergency.”
UEFA said the teams were having an emergency meeting and more information would be provided at 7:45 p.m. local time. A stadium announcer asked fans to stay in their seats and stay calm.