Crucial win for Socceroos

Iran deal China a major blow

AFP, TEHRAN: Iran's Mehdi Taremi dealt China's World Cup hopes a major blow on Tuesday, as Australia grabbed a crucial win over UAE to stay in the hunt for an automatic spot at Russia 2018.
Australia, however, can take nothing for granted as they lie in third spot with 13 points after Japan and Saudi Arabia also won to jointly go three points clear in Group B with 16.
Japan ended Thailand's campaign with a 4-0 victory in Saitama, and South Korea squeezed past Syria 1-0 to get back on track after last week's upset to China.
Saudi Arabia grabbed three points in Jeddah with Yahya al-Shehri scoring the winner in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 victory over Iraq, who languish in fifth place with just four points.
Marcello Lippi's team had raised Chinese hopes with their 1-0 win over the Koreans, but Taremi's goal straight after half-time consigned them to defeat by the same scoreline.
While Iran, Asia's top-ranked team, maintain their four-point cushion from South Korea at the top of Group A, China are second from bottom with only three games to go.
In Sydney, Australia badly needed a win against UAE and after a game featuring 42 fouls they ran out 2-0 victors thanks to goals from Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie.
It allowed the Socceroos to keep pace with Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group B as they hunt for the top-two finish which will give them an automatic berth in Russia. But the result spelled doom for UAE's under-fire coach Mahdi Ali, who announced his resignation from the 2019 Asian Cup hosts following five years at the helm.

 

Crucial win for Socceroos

Iran deal China a major blow

AFP, TEHRAN: Irans Mehdi Taremi dealt Chinas World Cup hopes a major blow on Tuesday, as Australia grabbed a crucial win over UAE to stay in the hunt for an automatic spot at Russia 2018. Australia, however, can take nothing for granted as they lie in third spot with 13 points after Japan and Saudi Arabia also won to jointly go three points clear in Group B with 16. Japan ended Thailands campaign with a 4-0 victory in Saitama, and South Korea squeezed past Syria 1-0 to get back on track after last weeks upset to China. Saudi Arabia grabbed three points in Jeddah with Yahya al-Shehri scoring the winner in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 victory over Iraq, who languish in fifth place with just four points. Marcello Lippis team had raised Chinese hopes with their 1-0 win over the Koreans, but Taremis goal straight after half-time consigned them to defeat by the same scoreline. While Iran, Asias top-ranked team, maintain their four-point cushion from South Korea at the top of Group A, China are second from bottom with only three games to go. In Sydney, Australia badly needed a win against UAE and after a game featuring 42 fouls they ran out 2-0 victors thanks to goals from Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie. It allowed the Socceroos to keep pace with Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group B as they hunt for the top-two finish which will give them an automatic berth in Russia. But the result spelled doom for UAEs under-fire coach Mahdi Ali, who announced his resignation from the 2019 Asian Cup hosts following five years at the helm.