S. Korea, Iraq score World Cup qualifying wins

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Asian Cup champion Japan, China and Saudi Arabia reached the brink of advancing from their Asian pools with perfect records, and Iraq stayed in World Cup qualifying contention by downing Taiwan 4-1 on Wednesday. (Scores and match reports)

However, Jordan failed to improve its record to 4-0, when it lost 2-0 at home to Iran.

Japan crushed India 4-0 in Calcutta on goals by Takayuki Suzuki, Shinji Ono, Takashi Fukunishi and captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. Japan's fourth win in as many matches meant it can win Group 3 and advance with only a draw in the next qualifier against second-placed Oman on Oct. 13.

Oman won't be easy at home however, as it only lost 1-0 to Japan in February on a last-minute goal, and stayed on Japan's heels with a 2-0 win over Singapore on Wednesday.

China beat Malaysia 1-0 in Penang to remain in control of Group 4, and Saudi Arabia was the only other team to remain unblemished after a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan in Ashgabat in a Group 8 match.

Only the eight group winners advance to the next stage, where four will be guaranteed berths in 2006, and a fifth will face a playoff.

Elsewhere it was: Qatar 6, Laos 1; Uzbekistan 3, Palestine 0; Kuwait 2, Hong Kong 0; North Korea 4, Thailand 1; Yemen 3, UAE 1; Bahrain 2, Kyrgyzstan 1; Syria 1, Tajikistan 0; South Korea 2, Vietnam 1; Lebanon 5, Maldives 2; and Sri Lanka 2, Indonesia 2.

Japan struggled to adjust to the evening heat and didn't break through India until Suzuki capitalized on a defensive error just before halftime for the only goal of the first half.

The start of the second was delayed for about 20 minutes after a power outage plunged the massive 110,000-seat stadium into darkness, but the Japanese then lit up when star attacking midfielder Ono converted a free kick from 30 meters.

Fukunishi knocked in a header in the 71st, set up by teammate Alessandro Santos from the left flank, and Miyamoto made a reflex right-leg flick after the ball deflected off an Indian defender's head in the 85th.

Li Jinyu scored the lone goal needed to beat Malaysia, as China continued to grind through Group 4 without conceding a goal. China, runner-up at the Asian Cup, can advance with at least a draw in Kuwait next month.

Saudi Arabia also need only draw next month in Indonesia to move on from Group 8. Yasser Al Qahtani booted in a rebound goal against Turkmenistan after just eight minutes.

After its incredible run to fourth in the Olympics, Iraq had only a two-day break in Baghdad before heading to Taipei, and still didn't look tired as Salih Salih began the 4-1 rout of Taiwan with an easy goal in the fourth minute in light drizzle.

Iraq's second win gave it eight points, two behind Group 2 leader Uzbekistan, which beat depleted Palestine 3-0 in Qatar. Israel barred five Palestine players from leaving the territory. The group winner will likely be decided when Iraq hosts the Uzbeks on Oct. 13.

Jordan's unexpected 2-0 loss to Iran in Amman, after beating Iran 1-0 in Tehran in June, left both teams atop Group 1 on nine points each, and Iran ahead on goal difference.

Group 5 will also not be decided until the last game, after North Korea beat Thailand 4-1 -- the identical score from June -- to take the lead with eight points, and United Arab Emirates remained with seven, blowing a chance to lead the group in losing to previously winless Yemen 3-1. Striker Ali al-Nounou scored twice before 12,000 fans, and gave Yemen faint hope of advancing.

The Emirates host North Korea in November in the likely decider.

Unbeaten Bahrain will visit Syria next month in the potentially decisive Group 6 match. Bahrain has 10 points, and Syria seven, and Bahrain would advance with a victory.

Husain Ali and Mohamed Ahmed Hubail gave Bahrain a 2-0 lead in Bishkek and substitute Emil Kenjisariyev narrowed the deficit by one six minutes from time, but Kyrgyzstan's hopes faded three minutes later when Ruslan Sadykov was ejected for a second yellow card.

Syria striker Rase Raja scored midway through the first half to escape Tajikistan with a narrow 1-0 win in Dushanbe.

Lebanon's home game against South Korea next month will be key to Group 7. South Korea has 10 points, and Lebanon nine, while Vietnam and Maldives are out of contention.

South Korea, playing with 10 men for 47 minutes, rallied from a goal down to beat Vietnam 2-1 in Ho Chi Minh City on midfielder Lee Chun-soo's free kick gaol 15 minutes from fulltime.

Lebanon rushed to 5-0 on a pair by Ail Nasserddine in Male, then gave up the Maldives' first two goals of the competition.