Lebanon stunned South Korea 2-1 on Tuesday as Australia scrambled into the last stage of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifying with a narrow victory over Thailand.
Iran thumped Indonesia 4-1 and they were assured of their place in the next round when Bahrain could only draw with Qatar, while China’s flickering hopes were finally extinguished and North Korea upset Japan in a spiteful match loaded with political tension.
Lebanon had been smashed 6-0 by South Korea, ranked 115 places higher, in September, but they seized the initiative in Beirut when Ali Al Saadi pounced on a loose ball from a free-kick in just the fourth minute of the match.
Photo: Reuters
South Korea leveled through a Koo Ja-cheol penalty, but Abbas Ali Atwi’s spot-kick 10 minutes later was to prove decisive.
The teams are now level on points at the top of Group B, but Kuwait’s come-from-behind 2-1 win at home over the United Arab Emirates later on Tuesday kept alive Kuwait’s hopes of preventing one of the top two from progressing to the next stage of qualifying.
In Bangkok, Brett Holman’s second-half header was enough to give Australia a scrappy win and take them through with 12 points from five games, joining already qualified Japan, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
However, it was far from the majestic procession earlier promised by Australia, who won their first three games, but came badly unstuck in Friday’s 0-1 shock against Oman.
A near-capacity crowd at Supachalasai National Stadium provided vocal support as Thailand shaded the first half, but with 15 minutes to go, a cross from former Blackburn Rovers player Brett Emerton on the right found Holman unmarked and he made no mistake with the close-range header.
It was a different story in Jakarta, as goals from Milad Meydavoodi, Mojtaba Jabbari and Gholamreza Rezaei put Iran out of sight within 25 minutes. Javad Nekounam wrapped it up with a 73rd-minute penalty.
Iran’s place in the next phase was assured later on Tuesday when Bahrain failed to beat Qatar as they fought out a drab 0-0 draw.
China’s faint hopes of reaching the next phase were briefly given a boost after they thrashed hapless Singapore 4-0 and when Iraq trailed Jordan 1-0 at halftime in Amman.
However, two goals from Nashat Akram inspired the 2007 Asian Cup champions to a 3-1 victory over Jordan, inflicting their hosts’ first defeat of the group stage and ensuring the visitors progressed to the next stage.
In Pyongyang, North Korea defiantly downed bitter rivals Japan with the only goal of a game which yielded nine yellow cards and one red in an electric atmosphere at Kim Il-sung Stadium.
Pak Nam-chol’s 50th-minute header avenged North Korea’s September defeat in Tokyo and sparked delirious scenes from the packed crowd, which had roundly booed the former colonialists’ national anthem.
However, North Korea’s first qualifying win came too late to save their campaign, which was killed off last week by Uzbekistan, while Japan were already through to the last round with 10 points from their first four games.
The match was a bad-tempered affair, with Bahraini referee Nawaf Shukralla showing eight yellow cards to North Korea players, including two for Jong Il-gwan, who was dismissed for his second caution on 77 minutes.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely