Almoez Ali penalty steers Qatar past Albania

Almoez Ali, the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Most Valuable Player, scored the only goal of the game when he struck from the penalty spot eight minutes before half-time.

The Tottenham forward had to have surgery on an eye socket fracture suffered in Spurs' 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Marseille last week.

Korea Republic begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against Uruguay on November 24 before also facing Ghana and Portugal in Group H.

Team Melli will have to be at their best with England, the United States of America and Wales also looking to advance.

The 54-year-old’s time in charge looked destined to end when, after losses against Oman and Saudi Arabia in their first three games of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™, the calls for a new head coach were growing louder by the day.

Sainsbury, a stalwart of the side that won the continental title in 2015, was not included among the defensive options selected by Arnold while Nagoya Grampus goalkeeper Mitch Langerak, midfielder Tom Rogic and Cerezo Osaka’s Adam Taggart were also omitted.

The 23-year-old's call-up is not a like-for-like swap because Nakayama is a full-back.