Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After Australia defeated Saudi Arabia on Thursday to throw Group B of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers wide open, the ten remaining teams on the continent return to action on Monday and Tuesday as Groups A and B head towards what is sure to be a gripping finale.
Group A:
The Islamic Republic of Iran will confirm their place at the FIFA World Cup should they defeat third-placed Uzbekistan in Group A on Monday, but a win for the visitors would close the gap to two points and offer real hope of a top-two finish with two games remaining.
Second-placed Korea Republic sit four points behind the unbeaten table-toppers and travel to bottom side Qatar a day later, desperate for a win ahead of meetings with both Iran and Uzbekistan on the final two Matchdays.
Also on Tuesday, Syria face off against China in Malaysia where a top-three place will still be firmly within their sights should the Uzbeks fail to win in Tehran a day earlier, while Marcello Lippi’s China must claim all three points to keep alive their slim hopes of finishing third and grabbing the intercontinental play-off spot.