Asian hopefuls face anxious 90 minutes

For five countries still contending for two direct spots at the World Cup, the Asian qualifying campaign has come down to 90 minutes.

Iran and Japan have already secured places at Russia 2018 as winners of Groups A and B, but both countries still could have a role to play in which of their rivals — including Asian champion Australia and South Korea — will be joining them in Russia.

Seven Asian teams can still qualify either by finishing second in their groups or by going through continental and intercontinental playoffs.

Iran hosts the surprising Syria team, which has unable to play at home for security reasons during the ongoing conflict in their country, but which moved into third place in Group A last week with a 3-1 win over Qatar.

Despite the disrupted buildup, Syria still has a chance to qualify for its first World Cup if results go its way tonight . To do so, the Syrians need to win in Tehran and rely on South Korea losing by a narrow margin in Uzbekistan.

Iran is yet to concede a goal in nine Group A games so far, but Syria has made a habit of upsetting the odds by holding Iran and South Korea to draws when playing in its temporary — and usually mostly empty — home ground in Malaysia. To win in Tehran would be the biggest result in the nation’s history.

“We know that we have a tough game ahead but we will do what we can,” Syria coach Ayman Hakee, who earlier in qualification had to deal with a number of important players refusing to appear for the national team in a reflection of the divisions that have torn the country apart, said.

With stars such as Omar Al Soma and Firas Al Khatib returning to the team and in good form, there’s still potential for an upset win.

There are two automatic places, and two playoff places on offer.

In group A, South Korea can qualify for a ninth successive World Cup if it takes all three points in Uzbekistan, though that is far from certain with the team winning just one of its last five qualifiers. Uzbekistan can qualify for a first-ever World Cup if it can beat South Korea in Tashkent and Syria fails to win in Iran. If Syria plays to a draw in Iran, it can hold third place and go into a play-off with the thirdplace team in Group B for a spot in an intercontinental qualifier.

In group B, Saudi Arabia and Australia each has 16 points and are vying for second, with the group standings going down to the last game when the Saudis host Japan. The Saudis have a superior goal difference of the two. Australia hosts struggling Thailand to Melbourne. If the Saudis and Australians both win, the cup spot will depend on goal difference.

Australia attacker James Troisi said. “We know what’s at stake. Everyone wants to go to a World Cup — it’s massive for all of us. We just hope we can get good support behind us.”

Saudi Arabia has not appeared at the World Cup since 2006 and will be hoping that Japan is still in a celebratory mood after clinching qualification. The Samurai Blue are without injured midfielders Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund and captain Makoto Hasebe of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The United Arab Emirates needs a big win over Iraq, combined with losses for the Saudis and Australians to have a chance of finishing third.

— AP