Last time out we wrapped up African qualifying - save for the play-offs - and we're going to do the same today for Asia. This is how the final round of qualifying looks so far:
Saudi Arabia, who have yet to fail to make the DWC finals, are strong favourites here. Among the other five teams, there's no stand-out challenger. Kazakhstan qualified last year and Thailand the year before, whilst South Korea and Indonesia have made the play-offs. Hong Kong are the outsiders, starting this year as the 160th-ranked team in the DWC world.
However, Hong Kong did do really well to win a tricky group in Round 2. The other teams in this group all also won their Round 2 groups, except South Korea. Saudi Arabia won all 8 of their games to emphasise their status as favourites.
Matchday 1
The notion that this might be a bridge too far for Hong Kong was helped as they quickly fell 3-0 behind against Kazakhstan. They grabbed one back for a 3-1 defeat. Saudi Arabia suffered a 2nd-minute red card, but grabbed a late, late win against Thailand as Djaniny raced through and calmly slotted it home. But the best performance came as South Korea dismantled Indonesia for a 4-0 win.
However, Hong Kong did do really well to win a tricky group in Round 2. The other teams in this group all also won their Round 2 groups, except South Korea. Saudi Arabia won all 8 of their games to emphasise their status as favourites.
Matchday 1
The notion that this might be a bridge too far for Hong Kong was helped as they quickly fell 3-0 behind against Kazakhstan. They grabbed one back for a 3-1 defeat. Saudi Arabia suffered a 2nd-minute red card, but grabbed a late, late win against Thailand as Djaniny raced through and calmly slotted it home. But the best performance came as South Korea dismantled Indonesia for a 4-0 win.
Matchday 2
Indonesia improved a bit, but still lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia, with a header from a corner for Bafetimbi Gomis followed by a stunning long shot by Giuliano. Hong Kong took a surprising lead against South Korea, but Cesinha levelled from the spot. It finished 1-1 for Hong Kong's first point of the campaign, and Thailand did the same as they also drew 1-1, with Kazakhstan.
Indonesia improved a bit, but still lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia, with a header from a corner for Bafetimbi Gomis followed by a stunning long shot by Giuliano. Hong Kong took a surprising lead against South Korea, but Cesinha levelled from the spot. It finished 1-1 for Hong Kong's first point of the campaign, and Thailand did the same as they also drew 1-1, with Kazakhstan.
Matchday 3
Saudi Arabia beat Hong Kong with ease, triumphing 3-0. They were out-done by Indonesia however, as they built on two early corner goals to beat Thailand 4-0. Meanwhile, South Korea and Kazakhstan drew 1-1, the second such scoreline in a row for both sides.
Matchday 4
Hong Kong grabbed their first win as they overcame Indonesia 2-0. South Korea flew into a 2-0 lead against Thailand in the first 11 minutes, but two goals in three second-half minutes earned Thailand a 2-2 draw. This was also the score in the match between Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan, with both teams having the lead and losing it.
Saudi Arabia beat Hong Kong with ease, triumphing 3-0. They were out-done by Indonesia however, as they built on two early corner goals to beat Thailand 4-0. Meanwhile, South Korea and Kazakhstan drew 1-1, the second such scoreline in a row for both sides.
Matchday 4
Hong Kong grabbed their first win as they overcame Indonesia 2-0. South Korea flew into a 2-0 lead against Thailand in the first 11 minutes, but two goals in three second-half minutes earned Thailand a 2-2 draw. This was also the score in the match between Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan, with both teams having the lead and losing it.
Matchday 5
That draw was the first match Saudi Arabia have failed to win in this year's DWC qualification campaign, and they looked to bounce back as they hosted South Korea. Just as their previous match, a see-saw game saw the teams 2-all. However, Saudi Arabia were awarded an 89th-minute penalty. Maicon stepped up... and hit the post... but it hit South Korea's goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu and trickled in! To rub salt in the wounds, Sebastian Giovinco added another in injury time for a 4-2 win. Meanwhile, Indonesia battled to a good 2-1 win over Kazakhstan, whilst Thailand got their first win of the group by beating Hong Kong 3-1.
So this is the halfway table:
That draw was the first match Saudi Arabia have failed to win in this year's DWC qualification campaign, and they looked to bounce back as they hosted South Korea. Just as their previous match, a see-saw game saw the teams 2-all. However, Saudi Arabia were awarded an 89th-minute penalty. Maicon stepped up... and hit the post... but it hit South Korea's goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu and trickled in! To rub salt in the wounds, Sebastian Giovinco added another in injury time for a 4-2 win. Meanwhile, Indonesia battled to a good 2-1 win over Kazakhstan, whilst Thailand got their first win of the group by beating Hong Kong 3-1.
So this is the halfway table:
Once again, Asian qualifying has given us a gloriously tight group. Saudi Arabia aside, 2 points separates the remaining teams, all 5 of whom have a realistic chance of qualification. So let's get straight back to it!
Matchday 6
Despite being away from home this time, the same three teams beat the same three opponents as in matchday 1. Saudi Arabia were spurred on by two outrageous long shots by Alfred N'Diaye to beat Thailand 3-1, whilst Kazakhstan came from behind to beat Hong Kong by the same scoreline. Meanwhile, a free kick and a penalty saw South Korea to a 2-0 win over Indonesia.
Matchday 6
Despite being away from home this time, the same three teams beat the same three opponents as in matchday 1. Saudi Arabia were spurred on by two outrageous long shots by Alfred N'Diaye to beat Thailand 3-1, whilst Kazakhstan came from behind to beat Hong Kong by the same scoreline. Meanwhile, a free kick and a penalty saw South Korea to a 2-0 win over Indonesia.
Matchday 7
Kazakhstan started their game against Thailand with a bang, with wonderful long goals by May Mahlangu and Rúnar Mar Sigurjónsson saw them go 2-0 up in the first 7 minutes. Despite a goal back from their opponents, Kazakhstan came through 3-1 winners. Saudi Arabia did the same as they eased past Indonesia. Meanwhile, South Korea and Hong Kong shared the group's first goalless draw. These results meant Saudi Arabia could only be caught by Kazakhstan (7 points behind) and South Korea (9 points behind). However, because those two had each other to play, they couldn't both overtake Saudi Arabia, meaning they've wrapped up a very quick qualification!
Kazakhstan started their game against Thailand with a bang, with wonderful long goals by May Mahlangu and Rúnar Mar Sigurjónsson saw them go 2-0 up in the first 7 minutes. Despite a goal back from their opponents, Kazakhstan came through 3-1 winners. Saudi Arabia did the same as they eased past Indonesia. Meanwhile, South Korea and Hong Kong shared the group's first goalless draw. These results meant Saudi Arabia could only be caught by Kazakhstan (7 points behind) and South Korea (9 points behind). However, because those two had each other to play, they couldn't both overtake Saudi Arabia, meaning they've wrapped up a very quick qualification!
Matchday 8
Saudi Arabia celebrated their qualification in style, beating Hong Kong 5-0, with 4 for Giovinco, to secure top spot in the group. The big clash in the battle for the second spot came as South Korea visited Kazakhstan. Cesinha's volley cancelled out Márton Eppel's opener, and the sides finished 1 apiece. It was also 1-1 between Thailand and Indonesia, both sides scoring from the spot but failing to get the winning goal to force themselves into qualification contention.
Matchday 9
Thailand gave South Korea a really good game. They took the lead through Rolando Blackburn's stunning goal, and re-took the lead after South Korea equalised. However, two goals in a minute saw South Korea go 3-2. This was all by the 32nd minute, but there were no more goals and South Korea claimed the win. This meant Kazakhstan needed to avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia to stay in 2nd. Not only did they do that, but they went on to a resounding 4-0 win, giving their opponents their first defeat of this year's DWC qualification campaign. Meanwhile, Indonesia overcame Hong Kong 1-0, although it was too little too late for their qualification hopes.
Saudi Arabia celebrated their qualification in style, beating Hong Kong 5-0, with 4 for Giovinco, to secure top spot in the group. The big clash in the battle for the second spot came as South Korea visited Kazakhstan. Cesinha's volley cancelled out Márton Eppel's opener, and the sides finished 1 apiece. It was also 1-1 between Thailand and Indonesia, both sides scoring from the spot but failing to get the winning goal to force themselves into qualification contention.
Matchday 9
Thailand gave South Korea a really good game. They took the lead through Rolando Blackburn's stunning goal, and re-took the lead after South Korea equalised. However, two goals in a minute saw South Korea go 3-2. This was all by the 32nd minute, but there were no more goals and South Korea claimed the win. This meant Kazakhstan needed to avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia to stay in 2nd. Not only did they do that, but they went on to a resounding 4-0 win, giving their opponents their first defeat of this year's DWC qualification campaign. Meanwhile, Indonesia overcame Hong Kong 1-0, although it was too little too late for their qualification hopes.
So this is the table with one game to go:
It's all down to whether Kazakhstan can hold onto 2nd place ahead of South Korea. They should do, as South Korea face Saudi Arabia, whilst Kazakhstan have Indonesia. If they manage a point, then South Korea would need to win by 4 goals.
Matchday 10
Indeed, it did prove a bridge too far for South Korea, who lost 1-0 to a fine Karim El Ahmadi strike. There was also only one goal in Kazakhstan's game, as Sigurjónsson earned victory over Indonesia. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Thailand finished with a goalless draw.
Matchday 10
Indeed, it did prove a bridge too far for South Korea, who lost 1-0 to a fine Karim El Ahmadi strike. There was also only one goal in Kazakhstan's game, as Sigurjónsson earned victory over Indonesia. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Thailand finished with a goalless draw.
The final table:
So, three of the four teams that represented Asia in last year's DWC are there again this year, as Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan join China. South Korea will have to take on Iran in a two-legged tie to see who gets into the Intercontinental play-off.