Oceania and Asia are the two continents which feature a two-legged play-off to get into the Intercontinental Play-Off, so we will cover both in the same episode.
After the sides' slogs through qualifying, these are the matches:
After the sides' slogs through qualifying, these are the matches:
Unlike our last episode, we will cover both first and second legs today. Starting with...
First leg: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea
New Zealand are very much a big fish in a small pond in Oceanic qualifying, and it would be a huge shock if they were to fail to make the Intercontinental Play-Off this year. However, these two teams did draw 1-1 when they met in Round 1, so maybe there is a chance for Papua New Guinea to spring an upset?
First leg: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea
New Zealand are very much a big fish in a small pond in Oceanic qualifying, and it would be a huge shock if they were to fail to make the Intercontinental Play-Off this year. However, these two teams did draw 1-1 when they met in Round 1, so maybe there is a chance for Papua New Guinea to spring an upset?
It takes New Zealand just over six minutes to take the lead, Roy Krishna cutting inside and burying a powerful shot. New Zealand continue by dominating the match, with over 70% possession. Nathan Burns goes close with two free kicks, but Papua New Guinea eventually get a bit of a foothold and hold out to go in at the break only 1-0 down.
Papua New Guinea take Jacob Sabua off at the break due to a gash, and soon after the half restarts have to replace Obert Bika through injury as well. Despite this, New Zealand fail to press home the advantage, and the second half drifts along. This is until, in the 78th minute, Burns finally hits the mark with a free kick, doubling New Zealand's lead. They can't put the game fully to bed, but a 2-0 victory sees them in a commanding position ahead of the return leg.
First leg: Iran vs Japan
Iran were pretty solid in finishing third in their qualifying group behind South Korea and Kazakhstan, but Japan were probably more impressive as they qualified behind Saudi Arabia and China. It's been part of a huge resurgence by Japan, who were miserable last year, as their team now contains J-League stars, including three actual World Cup winners, one of whom has also won the Draft World Cup.
First leg: Iran vs Japan
Iran were pretty solid in finishing third in their qualifying group behind South Korea and Kazakhstan, but Japan were probably more impressive as they qualified behind Saudi Arabia and China. It's been part of a huge resurgence by Japan, who were miserable last year, as their team now contains J-League stars, including three actual World Cup winners, one of whom has also won the Draft World Cup.
It's a battle of styles, as Japan aim to play a fluent tiki-taka game, whilst Iran are a bit more prosaic. And it's the hosts whose set-up brings the opening goal, as a goal kick is nodded down by Ashlan Dejagah to Karim Ansarifard, who surges past Gen Shoji and fires a shot home for the lead. Ansarifard flashes another shot just over the bar, before a devastating Iranian counter-attack results in a low cross being tapped in by Mohammad Reza Khalatbari. Half time, and Iran are thoroughly in control.
Japan kick off for the second half, and Lukas Podolski sums up the previous 45 minutes by passing it straight out of play. His side really need a goal in this half, and they nearly get it when Yasuhito Endo smashes a free kick against the crossbar. They are immediately made to regret this when half-time substitute Tomoaki Makino pushes Jalal Hossaini in the box. Ansarifard takes it... but it's parried by Masaaki Higashiguchi! It feels like a turning point, as Japan begin to have several half-chances, but they cannot convert any, and Iran turn more and more defensive, successfully securing a 2-0 victory.
First leg results
First leg results
Can home advantage help turn these two ties around? With no away goals scored it's going to be extremely difficult.
Second leg: Papua New Guinea (0) vs New Zealand (2)
Bika is not fit for this game, whilst Sabua is only available for the bench. As a result, Papua New Guinea bring in Troy Gunemba and Stahl Gubag. Meanwhile, New Zealand remain unchanged.
Second leg: Papua New Guinea (0) vs New Zealand (2)
Bika is not fit for this game, whilst Sabua is only available for the bench. As a result, Papua New Guinea bring in Troy Gunemba and Stahl Gubag. Meanwhile, New Zealand remain unchanged.
After a quiet opening to the match, New Zealand get the crucial goal in the 36th minute as Burns finishes a quick counter-attack. 1-0 at the break, and New Zealand would now need to concede four times to lose from here.
The second half is a dour affair, with both sides knowing who will go through. There are a few chances, but the final score is 1-0, securing New Zealand's passage to the Intercontinental Play-Off!
Second leg: Japan (0) vs Iran (2)
The only change made by Japan is to replace Jo with Yu Kobayashi. Iran bring in Andranik Teymourian for Mohsen Mosalman as they move to a more defensive formation.
Second leg: Japan (0) vs Iran (2)
The only change made by Japan is to replace Jo with Yu Kobayashi. Iran bring in Andranik Teymourian for Mohsen Mosalman as they move to a more defensive formation.
Japan start like they mean business, and in the 11th minute Shoji volleys home from Andrés Iniesta's free kick to reduce the deficit. And five minutes later, another Iniesta free kick results in a Japan goal! It fell to Endo, whose shot hits the woodwork and deflects in via the unfortunate Alireza Beiranvand. Japan are rampant now, and they take the lead in the 23rd minute following a beautiful 14-pass move starting with a goal kick and ending with Fernando Torres tucking it away from close range. Iran nearly get their away goal as Ehsan Hajsafi's free kick is parried away, and the visitors end the half strongly, but still 3-2 down on aggregate. What a first half from Japan!
Khalatbari had been carrying a knock, and is replaced by Ehsan Pahlevan for the second half. Further attacking changes fail to bring much change in the match, as Japan look very comfortable as the half progresses. Mehdi Kiani has a thunderous long shot pushed over by Higashiguchi, before Iniesta's low drive from 30 yards is tipped behind. Iran just cannot get the ball from their opponents to mount any attacks, and eventually time runs out - Japan have pulled it off!
Final results
Final results
An unbelievable turnaround from Japan, and they and New Zealand will join Venezuela, Jamaica and Turkey in the Intercontinental Play-Off, plus whoever wins the African play-off, which is the next episode!