KUALA LUMPUR: Bahrain thrashed Malaysia 4-1 in the opening leg of the first round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World on Sunday to ease into a strong position for the second leg.

The hosts lost little time in getting off the mark at the Manama National Stadium with Abdullah Baba Fatadi beating Malaysian goalkeeper Syed Adney Syed Hussain in the fifth minute. It was the turn of Nigerian-born forward Jaycee John Akwani to double the advantage 11 minutes later.

The lead was slashed by substitute Mohd Bunyamin Umar in first half stoppage time but Mahmood Abdul Rahman restored the two-goal edge for Milan Macala’s side in the 56th minute. Ala’a Hubail heaped more misery on the visitors with his injury time penalty.

The big defeat has left B Sathianathan’s men with a mountain to climb in the return leg on October 28 in Kuala Lumpur.

In Colombo, Qatar laboured to a 1-0 win over hosts Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The only goal of the game came in the 68th minute through Sebastian Soria. The return leg is set for October 28 at the Al Sadd Stadium in Doha.

In Foshan, China ran riot against Myanmar and handed out a 7-0 drubbing at the Centry Lotus Stadium. Qu Bo (17, 81), Du Zhenyu (22), Yan Lin (58), Jian Liu (63), Li Jinyu (76) and Li Weifeng (79).

In Ulan Bator, Jong Chol-min scored a hat-trick as DPR Korea destroyed Mongolia 4-1 for a dream start to their campaign.

Played at the Football Centre in the Mongolian capital, the match was dominated by the visiting team with Pak Chol-min opening the scoring in the 14th minute. Jong hit the first of his two goals 10 minutes later and Jo Tong-sop’s men ran out for the breather 3-0 up after the same player grabbed his double in the 32nd minute.

Jong put the result beyond any doubt with his 78th minute strike before Odkhuu Selenge provided a consolation goal in stoppage time.

The return leg will take place on October 28 at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang.

In Gianyar, Hong Kong edged Timor Leste 3-2 in a tightly contested encounter. Cheng Siu Waxi netted a double for the winners.