AFC Round Three: Group D Standings

Originally thought to be the clearest group to predict, group D is now suddenly wide open.

Group D

1. Australia 6 pts, +3 GD
2. Thailand 3 pts, +2 GD
3. Saudi Arabia 1 pt, -2 GD
4. Oman 1 pt, -3 GD

The Aussies opened its qualifying campaign with a slow 45 minutes, falling behind 1-0 to underdogs Thailand. Since then, they have staked their claim as the best side in Asia.

Two second half goals spared Australia's blushes against Thailand. In the second match, Australia traveled all the way to Saudi Arabia and ripped the Saudi's apart, winning 3-1.

A win at home versus Oman in the next fixture should put Australia solidly in first place, which is the expected result of that match.

The most surprising team in Asia this round so far is Thailand. They took a shock lead in Australia, before falling 2-1. However, it was a brilliant performance from Thailand who really could have escaped with a point.

They then dominated Oman 3-0 in the second match, which puts them in second place and with a renewed sense of confidence of advancing. Teerasil Dangda tallied a goal in each match so far.

Thailand's next match is absolutely crucial to its hopes of progressing. They host Saudi Arabia in a game that could determine where each side finishes. As a warmup, Thailand will host Jordan Oct. 6th.

Fortunately for Thailand, Saudi Arabia is in horrible form at the moment. They drew 0-0 in Oman before getting crushed at home 3-1 by Australia.

Frank Rijkaard has not been able to get his side to mesh so far, and needs to solve their problems quickly or else the Saudis could fall short of advancing.

As preparation for the huge match in Thailand, Saudi Arabia will travel to Indonesia for a friendly a few days before. Rijkaard's job may even be in danger if the side cannot obtain a result.

Lowly Oman sits bottom of the table in group D. However, advancing is not out of the question, but Oman needs to start scoring.

They have picked up a point thanks to its 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, but its 3-0 defeat to Thailand was very disappointing. They will have to get a shock win in Australia in order to climb back into the thick of things, something that seems highly unlikely.

AFC Round Three: Group C Standings

The group of death, group C, is living up to its reputation after two rounds.

Group C

1. Japan 4 pts, +1 GD
2. Uzbekistan 4 pts, +1 GD
3. North Korea 3 pts, 0 GD
4. Tajikistan 0 pts, -2 GD

2011 Asian Cup winners Japan did not have the best start to the round, but did pick up four points. Defender Maya Yoshida saved the sides blushes with a 94th minute header that gave them a 1-0 win over North Korea.

They put in an improved performance in Uzbekistan and picked up a point in a 1-1 draw. Shinji Okazaka, who has impressed for Stuttgart in Germany this season, scored the lone Japan goal.

A home match against Tajikistan is up next for Japan, which they will be expected to win by several goals. The Japanese have a friendly scheduled with Vietnam the Friday prior.

Uzbekistan sits tied atop the group with Japan. Its opening match in Tajikistan resulted in three points, Maksim Shatskikh was on target for the only goal in the 1-0 win.

A win versus Japan would have put the Uzbeks in pole position for winning the group, and while they did take an early lead, they should be happy with a point against the group favorites.

The next fixture for Uzbekistan is critical, away in North Korea. A draw would be a suitable result while a win would be terrific.

North Korea however, needs a win in that match. Sitting just one point behind the top two, the 2010 World Cup participants can not afford to drop home points.

They almost picked up a massive away point in the opening match in Japan, putting in a great defensive shift, but succumbing to a goal in added time. They struggled to a 1-0 win over Tajikistan, getting the three points they needed.

Bringing up the rear in group C is Tajikistan, the side that was reinstated to the competition following Syria's expulsion. As expected they have lost both matches so far, albeit both by a 1-0 scoreline.

Tajikistan will struggle to score goals in this round, and will have to grind out results. It does not get any easier for the side, with a trip to Japan next up.

Iraq Banned From Hosting Qualifiers

Iraq's hopes of progressing to the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifying took a hit today when FIFA announced the side are not allowed to host games.

FIFA cited security concerns and infrastructure failures in making its decision.

In Iraq's first home game of the third round against Jordan, the stadium suffered a power outage that last five minutes. It was also thought more spectators attended the match than what the stadium could hold.

The next home match for Iraq will be Nov. 11th versus China. As a result of the ban, the match will likely be played in neighboring Syria or Iran.

Iraq is currently in third place in group A with three points. They trail second place China on goal difference.

AFC Round Three: Group B Standings

Before taking a look at group B, check out the new FIFA rankings that were released today.

Group B

1. South Korea 4 pts, +6 GD
2. Kuwait 4 pts, +1 GD
3. Lebanon 3 pts, -4 GD
4. U.A.E. 0 pts, -3 GD

South Korea, the clear favorite in group B, opened its campaign with a crushing 6-0 win over Lebanon. Park Chu-Young celebrated his recent transfer to Arsenal with a hat-trick. The side dropped two points in Kuwait after a 1-1 draw where they took an early lead.

Complacency may be Korea's biggest enemy during this stage. That might have been the problem in Kuwait and must realize that cannot simply expect to win road games against weaker sides by simply showing up.

Next up for Korea is a home match with the U.A.E. and it should result in an easy three points for the South Koreans. They will be wary of another slip up and should cruise the rest of the round.

Kuwait took two major steps toward advancement in its matches. First they picked up three vital points in the U.A.E. against the team thought to be its main rival for that second spot. Yousef Nasser scored twice in the 3-2 victory.

The Middle Eastern side then picked up a brilliant result, drawing 1-1 with favorites South Korea. They now are on track to claim the second spot in group B and a win in the next match in Lebanon will help create a gap between them and the two chasers.

Lebanon has already exceeded its performance from last cycle. In 2010 qualifying, Lebanon lost all six games at this stage. After a 6-0 loss to South Korea, the side appeared headed down that road again.

However, a shocking 3-1 win over U.A.E. brought a new sense of confidence to the Lebanese camp. If the team can keep producing results at home, they have a shot to finish third in the group. A win in the next match against Kuwait will move them up to second and put pressure on other sides to produce results.

Finally, the U.A.E. is in shambles at the moment. An opening home defeat left the side with an uphill battle, but a loss to Lebanon now means that U.A.E. is extremely unlikely to grab one of the two advancing spots.

Favored to advance in this group along with South Korea, the U.A.E. fell flat on its face. Srečko Katanec was sacked as head coach after the first two matches. Newly appointed boss Abdullah Masfar has a tough challenge in traveling to South Korea for his first match in charge.

AFC Round Three: Group A Standings

Before we take a look at the teams involved in CONEMBOL qualifying which begins Oct. 7th, let's take a gander at where each group in Asian qualifying stands after two matches starting with group A.

Group A

1, Jordan 6 pts, +3 GD
2. China 3 pts, 0 GD
3. Iraq 3 pts, 0 GD
4. Singapore 0 pts, -3 GD

Jordan may be the most impressive team in World Cup qualifying so far, surprisingly sitting in first place in this group after two comfortable wins.

Hot on the heels of a successful Asian Cup for the country, where they reached the quarters, Jordan picked up a nice 2-0 win in Iraq before defeating favorite China 2-1 at home.

Hassan Abdel Fattah and Abdullah Deeb have been the integral members of the side. Fattah now has five goals in qualifying while Deeb tallied a goal in each of the first two matches in round three.

Next up for Jordan is an away match to bottom dwellers Singapore. A win there would almost solidify them as one of the two advancing sides.

China resides second in this group by virtue of having scored one more goal than Iraq. Despite sitting in one of the two qualifying spots for the next round, there is a lot of worry in the Chinese camp.

Its two performances have been far from convincing. They received some lucky breaks due to some controversial refereeing in a 2-1 home win against Singapore before putting in a poor display in Jordan.

Iraq stumbled to an opening 2-0 home defeat to Jordan, before getting back on track with a crucial 2-0 road win in Singapore. Its next match could prove decisive.

The Iraqis travel to China in the next fixture day and the match will go a long way in determining who advances out of the group. In a contest that pits two relatively new international managers, Jose Antonio Camacho and Zico, a draw would be absolutely huge for Iraq. Likewise, a win for China is a necessity for Camacho and company.

Unfortunately for Singapore, the results have not matched the country's performances so far. They took a deserved lead in China, before falling due to a debatable penalty call and having a shout for a penalty of their own turned down.

In its first home match, Singapore conceded twice in the second half to Iraq. They desperately need a win in order to attempt and claw their way into the top two, but face a tough task hosting group leaders Jordan.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Defeats Grenada in Qualifier

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines upset Grenada 2-1 in a CONCACAF group E match. The game had been rescheduled from Sept. 6th.

Teenager Myron Samuel opened the scoring for the hosts in the 27th minute. The 18-year-old, who has appeared in a reserve match for the Seattle Sounders, scored his fourth career international goal.

The home side then made sure of the points in the second half. Star player and midfielder Cornelius Stewart of the club side Vancouver Whitecaps knocked a shot home in the 71st minute. Grenada pulled a goal back late through Cassim Langaigne, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines held on to pull off a shocking win.

The loss now leaves the top seed in the group Grenada in shambles. Expected to contend with Guatemala for first in the group, the Caribbean outfit has lost its opening two matches, including a 3-0 home loss to Belize.

Meanwhile, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines now sits in third place with three points from its opening two matches. A home date against favorites Guatemala is next on the docket, and is a must win if the side has any hope of claiming the top spot.

CONCACAF Round Two: Group E and F Standings

Here is how the final two groups in CONCACAF appear after the first two fixtures.

Group E

1. Guatemala 6 pts, +5 GD
2. Belize 3 pts, +2 GD
3. Grenada 0 pts, -3 GD
4. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 pts, -4 GD

Despite being in the second pot for the draw, Guatemala is the favorite in group E and has lived up to its billing. An easy 4-0 home win over St. Vincent was followed by a 2-1 road win in Belize.

While they impressed in its opener, Guatemala knows it has room for improvement. There were times during the Belize match where the visitors were clearly second best. The Guatemalans have also had six different goalscorers in the first two matches.

Belize produced the biggest shock of qualifying so far, an easy 3-0 win in Grenada. After defeating Montserrat in round one, the Central American side was not expected to do anything of note in this stage.

However, Deon McCaulay and company showed that Belize needs to be taken seriously in this group. McCaulay scored in each match, bringing his total to six in qualifying, leading CONCACAF.

While they will not beat Guatemala out for the top spot, second place is a realistic possibility for Belize, which would be a great achievement.

Both Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have only played one group match, the will play each other Sept. 18th in a rescheduled game.

Grenada was blitzed at home by Belize, and needs a win to recover and get its campaign back on track. The top-seeded team in the group is not out of things yet, but it does not look rosy at all.

A team I have developed a soft spot for, Vincy Heat, is also looking to regain some confidence, after a 4-0 rout to Guatemala. The side will hope its home crowd can help carry them to victory over Grenada.

Group F

1. Antigua and Barbuda 6 pts, +10 GD
2. Haiti 6 pts, +8 GD
3. Curaçao 0 pts, -5 GD
4. U.S. Virgin Islands 0 pts, -13 GD

The weakest group of round two, group F is both clear and convoluted. Anituga and Barbuda and Haiti have clearly separated themselves, but will be in a tense battle against each other for the top spot.

Goal difference could be the difference in this group, and as of now Antigua and Barbuda has the advantage. A 5-2 opening home win over Curaçao was followed by a 8-1 crushing of USVI.

Peter Byers has scored five goals already and could end up with double digits in this round. It appears the question is not will Anitgua and Barbuda win its next two games, but how many goals will they score.

Haiti suffered a minor scare in Curaçao, falling behind twice and trailing 2-1 at the half. They did recover to win 4-2, but it needs bigger wins in order to keep pace with Antigua and Barbuda.

Curaçao took a lead in each game, but its defense's weakness was exposed, as they leaked nine goals in two games. This side will improve as qualifying continues, but the best they do in this group is third.

USVI has overachieved already and will lose all six games in this round. They can try to keep the goal differential down, but it is going to be a long round for this team.

If Curaçao and USVI lose their next games, they will be mathematically eliminated.

Abdulla Mesfer Named U.A.E. Coach

The U.A.E. have named Abdulla Mesfer manager, just days after firing Srecko Katanec after a disappointing start to the third round of Asian qualifying.

Mesfer previously coached the national side for a few games in 2000 and was the assistant coach to Dominique Bathenay, who managed the U.A.E. from September 2008 to June 2009.

The hire is an intriguing one by the U.A.E. The trend for Middle Eastern countries has become to look at foreign, often European coaches to guide national teams. This has been evident with the recent appointments of Frank Rijkaard by Saudi Arabia, Goran Tufegdžić by Kuwait and even Brazilian Zico by Iraq.

However, the U.A.E. association chose to stay in house this time, perhaps assuming that Mesfer's knowledge of the player pool and domestic league will help the side get its campaign back on track.

The U.A.E. rests at the foot of group B, following a 3-2 home loss to Kuwait and a shocking 3-1 upset in Lebanon that was the nail in Katanec's coffin.

Mesfer's first match at the helm is not an easy one, away to favorite South Korea on Oct. 11th.

CONCACAF Round Two: Group C and D Standings

Here is how groups C and D stand after the first two fixtures of round two.

Group C

1. Nicaragua 3 points, +1 GD
2. Panama 3 points, +1 GD
3. Dominica 0 points, -2 GD

Nicaragua tops the group of three by virtue of having scored three goals to Panama's two. The Central American side began its campaign with a slightly unexpected 2-0 triumph in Dominica.

The only team to play two games in this group so far, Nicaragua gave a nice account of themselves at home to favorite Panama, falling 2-1 and having a late equalizer ruled out due to an offside call.

In order to have any shot at winning the group, Nicaragua needs to win its two games in October. They should beat Dominica at home, but even getting a draw in Panama will be a tough ask.

Panama's two big boys up front, Luis Tejada and Blas Perez, were both on the mark in Nicaragua, an excellent sign for the side's future.

The vast favorite in group C, Panama can almost lock up the top spot when they host Nicaragua.

Dominica's campaign went wrong in the first minute, conceding a goal to Nicaragua. They were not able to recover and fell 2-0 in its lone match played.

The side looks to avenge its defeat in the next matchday. Anything less than a win however, and Dominica will be virtually eliminated.

Group D

1. Canada 6 points, +6 GD
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis 4 points, +2 GD
3. Puerto Rico 1 point, -3 GD
4. Saint Lucia 0 points, -5 GD

Canada did exactly what they needed to, winning both its matches and opening a healthy goal difference gap in the process.

They had a slight scare in its first game, going into the half tied 1-1 with lowly Saint Lucia. Things opened up in the second 45, with Canada running three by the opposition.

What Canada will be most pleased with is how they handled a potential tricky fixture away to Puerto Rico. The side put in a what can be described as a professional performance, and came out 3-0 winners.

Saint Kitts and Nevis could not mirror Canada's results, and dropped two points at home to Puerto Rico, failing to score. They rebounded with a four-goal first half in Saint Lucia, winning 4-2.

SKN needs to grab all six points available in October, away to Puerto Rico and at home to Saint Lucia, if they are to stand any chance of shocking Canada in November.

While the Puerto Ricans did scrape an away point from their trip to SKN, they need to figure out how to score goals and fast. They have lacked creativity in both their matches, and need a spark from somewhere.

If they fall to SKN and Canada defeats Saint Lucia, Puerto Rico will be eliminated on the next matchday.

The two hazy bright spots for Saint Lucia were scoring in the first 10 minutes in Canada and that 17-year-old sensation Zaine Pierre tallied against Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Saint Lucia's next match is at home to Canada. If they go down in defeat, they will be mathematically eliminated.

CONCACAF Round Two: Group A and B Standings

Here is how groups A and B in CONCACAF shake out after two matches.

Group A

1. El Salvador 6 points, +4 Goal Difference
2. Suriname 4 points, +1 GD
3. Dominican Republic 1 point, -1 GD
4. Cayman Islands 0 points, -4 GD

As expected, El Salvador holds the top spot in group A after victories over the Dominican Republic, 3-2 and the Cayman Islands, 4-1.

The side had minor scares in both matches. They conceded twice to a Dominican side ranked 58 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Then, the team failed to score in the first half in the Cayman Islands, before responding well in the second half.

El Salvador plays the same two teams in October and two more wins could see the Central American nation lock up the group by then.

Suriname has struggled to score goals in the opening two games with its only two coming from the penalty spot through Friso Mando. The side should be disappointed with its performances, only beating minnow the Cayman Islands 1-0 at home and failing to grab all three points in the Dominican Republic, drawing 1-1.

The Surinamese team's chances of advancing were slim, but if they drop any more points in the next two matches, the side's campaign is basically over.

The Dominican Republic put in two surprisingly nice performances, and came away with a point for its effort. They scored twice in El Salvador and fought back to claim a 1-1 draw with Suriname. These results show the growth of the sport in the Dominican Republic.

The side came into this round seeded in the final pot, courtesy of a comfortable aggregate win over Anguilla in one of the five first round ties. They were expected to finish near the bottom of the group, however they will be confident of positive results in the next matches, and could possibly finish second. Failure to win next match will result in the Dominican Republic being eliminated from finishing atop the group.

True minnows Cayman Islands were never seriously going to contend in this group. Any points they gain in this round will be a bonus. If they lose their next match, the side will be mathematically eliminated.

Group B

1. Guyana 6 points, +3 GD
2. Trinidad and Tobago 6 points, +3 GD
3. Bermuda 0 points, -2 GD
4. Barbados 0 points, -4 GD

Guyana is first in group B by virtue of having scored one more goal than Trinidad and Tobago. In its opening match Guyana exposed Barbados' high defensive line for a 2-0 win, then followed it up with a 2-1 win against Bermuda thanks to a Vurlon Mills brace.

Things get tougher for Guyana in its next two fixtures, where they play the same two sides on the road. If they can pick up six more points, it will set up a showdown with T&T for first place.

Trinidad and Tobago did pick up two wins, however, they know their performance was not up what is expected from them. While they did win comfortably 2-0 on a bumpy pitch in Barbados, a 1-0 win at home over lowly Bermuda does not inspire a lot of confidence.

T&T should be wary when traveling to Bermuda next month, they have been tripped up by Khano Smith and company before. Once again, the two games with Guyana in November will in all likelihood decide the group winner.

Bermuda has shown well in its two games and could play spoiler with two games at home in October. They do need to figure out who else can score goals besides Smith.

Finally, Barbados has been disappointing. They have not scored any goals and its defense has been full of holes. If anything, they are lucky its goal differential is not worse than it already is.

U.A.E. Fires National Team Coach

The Football Association of the United Arab Emirates have sacked Srecko Katanec after opening the third round of AFC qualifying with two losses.

Katanec, a Slovenian who had been in charge of the side since June of 2009, had only won two of his last 11 games.

U.A.E. began the third round with a 3-2 home loss to Kuwait, and followed that with a shocking 3-1 defeat to Lebanon. They sit at the bottom of group B with four games to go and it is unlikely the team can advance to the next round.

Katanec, a former player for the Yugoslavian national team who made the 1990 World Cup squad, led the U.A.E. in the 2011 Asian Cup. The side finished bottom of group D, with a 0-0 draw against North Korea its only point.

The U.A.E. now has a month to search for a new coach to guide the national team, Fluminense coach Abel Braga is rumored to be the frontrunner for the job. U.A.E. resumes qualifying Oct. 11th in South Korea

CONCACAF Qualifying Highlights

Here are the highlights from the second round of qualifying games that are available as of now.

El Salvador 4 Cayman Islands 1



Dominican Republic 1 Suriname 1



Trinidad and Tobago 2 Barbados 0



Panama 2 Nicaragua 1



Canada 3 Puerto Rico 0

Highlights only available for those in Canada

El Salvador Wins in Caymans, Panama Wins in Nicaragua

Group A's top team El Salvador ran by the Cayman Islands 4-1 on the road, thanks to a second half blitz.

El Salvador should have been at least three goals clear at halftime, but thanks to the posts and some heroic defending, Cayman Islands held out. The floodgates opened in the second half, Christian Bautista opened the scoring in the 50th minute. Luis Anaya then added his first of two goals in the 63rd minute.

The Cayman Islands did briefly cut the lead in half when Mark Ebanks converted a penalty kick in the 74th. El Salvador responded well with two goals, Anaya added his second and Xavier Garcia completed the scoring in added time.

El Salvador now leads Suriname by two points after the first two group games, while the Cayman Islands have expectantly lost its first two matches.

Panama opened its group C campaign with a nice road win against Central American rival Nicaragua.

The two star attackers for Panama, Luis Tejada and Blas Perez, were the two goalscorers for perhaps the best CONCACAF nation in round two.

Tejada opened his account early, putting a shot in the net just seven minutes into the game. Nicaragua tied the match in the 19th, thanks to an own goal courtesy of defender Roman Torres.

In the second half Perez grabbed the eventual winner in the 50th minute and Panama was able to hold on for a nice opening win.

Guyana Stays Perfect Against Bermuda, Haiti Comes Back In Curacao

Guyana continued its unbeaten start in group B, with a 2-1 win over Bermuda. Vurlon Mills had a brace for Guyana.

The home side came into the match on the heels of a 2-0 win against Barbados and knew it needed to do the same tonight in order to keep pace with Trinidad and Tobago. For awhile it appeared it was going to be difficult as the match was deadlocked until the second half.

Mills then scored goals in the 50th and 59th minutes to help Guyana get the three points. Khano Smith pulled a goal back for Bermuda in the 90th, who have now lost its opening two matches by one goal apiece.

Guyana now sits atop group B thanks to more goals scored in its matches than Trinidad and Tobago. Bermuda sits third, ahead of Barbados, both on zero points.

Curaçao almost pulled a huge shock against Haiti, but eventually fell 4-2 despite taking the lead twice.

Mirco Colina opened the scoring for Curaçao in the 28th minute to give the hosts a flying start. After Kevin Lafrance equalized for Haiti, Angelo Zimmerman scored from the penalty spot to put Curaçao back in front going into halftime.

Unfortunately for the home side, things fell apart in the second stanza. James Marcelin, Vaniel Sirin and Leonel Saint-Preux all scored in the final 45 minutes to spare Haiti's blushes.

Even though Haiti won, they will be disappointed they did not handle the game with more ease. Haiti will be in a dogfight the whole way with Antigua and Barbuda and goal difference could be the key. Currently both sides have six points, but Antigua and Barbuda has plus 10 goal difference compared to Haiti's plus six.

Canada Edges Puerto Rico

Canada defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 on the road in hard-fought contest. Iain Hume, Simeon Jackson and Tosaint Ricketts had the goals for the away side.

The Canadians dominated much of the first half, but were kept out by the stingy Puerto Rican defense, which held Saint Kitts and Nevis scoreless over the weekend. Finally, with less than five minutes to go to halftime, Canada got the breakthrough.

A free kick was not cleared and fell to the feet of Hume, and the Preston North End striker made no mistake. Canada continued to control most of the match throughout the second half.

Puerto Rico did mount some offense, but failed to score on a succession of corners as the match wound down. Then, with less than 10 minutes to go, Jackson got the second after a free kick was not held by the keeper. Ricketts followed with a goal in the 89th minute to help Canada's goal difference.

The Canadians sit comfortably atop group D with six points and will be pleased how they performed in its first two games. On the other hand, Puerto Rico has a lot of room for improvement.

Guatemala Gets Road Win in Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis win in Saint Lucia

After a dull 0-0 encounter with Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis put a beating on Saint Lucia, defeating its group D opponent 4-2.

The match was all but a formality after the first 15 minutes. SKN struck three times during this period. First Ian Lake scored in the sixth minute followed by Mudassa Howe in the 12th. Joel Jeffers capped off the scoring spree in the 14th minute.

Saint Kitts and Nevis took a 4-0 lead when Devaughn Elliott was on target and the match was all but over.

Saint Lucia regained some pride with two second half goals. Teenage sensation Zaine Pierre scored in the 65th, and Cliff Valcin pulled another back late on.

This strong performance by SKN means they are still an outside factor in group D. Saint Lucia has conceded four goals in each of its first two games and remains at the bottom of the group. Match report

In group E, Guatemala solidified its place at the top of group E thanks to a 2-1 win at Belize. Gustavo Cabrera and Mynor Lopez were on target for the winners.

Each side had won its opening game, so this was a crucial match in the group. The visitors opened the scoring on a set-piece in just the fourth minute through Cabrera. Belize grew in confidence throughout the match and had opportunities to equalize, but Guatemala put the match out of reach in the 75th through Lopez.

Belize did pull a goal back when Deon McCauley scored yet another goal, his seventh of qualifying. However, Guatemala held on for the 2-1 win and first place in the group, which they will be expected to hold for the rest of the round. Match report

Dominican Republic and Suriname Draw, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago Win

The Dominican Republic tied Suriname 1-1 in a result that does more harm to both teams than help. The host side fell behind in the first half after they conceded a penalty to Suriname.

Friso Mando converted the penalty, just like he did against the Cayman Islands, to give Suriname a 1-0 lead. This advantage lasted through halftime, until the 68th minute when Eric Ozuna equalized for the Dominican Republic.

Suriname now has four points in group A while the Dominican Republic gained its first point of the second round. Match report

In group B, Trinidad and Tobago traveled to Barbados and obtained a 2-0 win. Keon Daniel of the Philadelphia Union put the away side ahead in the 20th minute.

Trinidad and Tobago wrapped up the points through Darryl Roberts in the 69th minute, who continued his fine recent performances for his country.

T&T now has six points from its first two games and holds first place in group B. Barbados has lost its first two group matches at home, and desperately needs to turn things around. Match report

Antigua and Barbuda had no troubles with the U.S. Virgin Islands, crushing them 8-1. Los Angeles Blues striker Peter Byers had a hat-trick, making it five goals in two games for him. Midfielder Randolph Burton added a brace while Ranjae Christian, Justin Cochrane and George Dublin all had one goal. Jaime Brown had the only goal for the USVI.

Antigua and Barbuda temporarily sit first in group F, now with two wins and a goal difference of 10. The U.S. Virgin Islands are last in the group, which was to be expected. They have a goal difference of negative 13. Match report

Highlights from Asian Qualifying Games

Match reports and highlights (if available) from the second set of games in round three

Group A

Singapore 0 Iraq 2



Jordan 2 China 1



Group B

Lebanon 3 U.A.E. 1



Kuwait 1 South Korea 1





Group C

North Korea 1 Tajikistan 0



Uzbekistan 1 Japan 1



Group D

Thailand 3 Oman 0



Saudi Arabia 1 Australia 3



Group E

Indonesia 0 Bahrain 2



Qatar 1 Iran 1

Australia Stamps Mark on Group D

Josh Kennedy scored twice to carry Australia to a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia, which leaves the Middle Eastern nation in real trouble.

The away side always looked the better one throughout the match and five minutes before the break Kennedy struck. He was able to reach a cross from the right and his header found the bottom corner.

Kennedy completed his brace early in the second half, taking advantage of Saudi Arabia's defensive mistakes. The hosts were caught in possession in the defensive third, which gave the Nagoya Grampus' striker an easy finish.

The Saudis attempted to get back in the match and won a penalty. Nasser Al-Shamrani stepped up to take it, but Mark Schwarzer saved it. Luckily for Saudi Arabia, the rebound fell right to Al-Shamrani and he put it in the back of the net, cutting the deficit in half.

Australia wrapped up the points late, winning a penalty of its own. Luke Wilshere stepped up and put his shot in the top corner.

Australia now is in comfortable position in group D with six points from its first two games. Saudi Arabia however, is in real trouble. They have one point from the two games and have not looked like a side that will make the World Cup.

South Korea Held to Draw in Kuwait

Park Chu-Young scored his fourth goal of qualifying, but Kuwait rebounded to post an impressive result, a 1-1 draw against the group B favorites.

Chu-Young opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a fantastic team-worked goal. After a nice dummy, the new Arsenal striker took one touch before firing a rocket with his right foot that left the keeper rooted to the spot.

Kuwait fought its way back into the match and were rewarded with a scrappy equalizer. After a cross was played into the box, the ball deflected off a Korean defender and before the goalie could grab it, Hussain Fadel poked it into the back of the net.

South Korea now shares the top spot in the group with Kuwait, although the East Asian nation is ahead because of its great goal difference. South Korea hosts the struggling U.A.E. next month while Kuwait travels to underdog Lebanon.

Qatar and Iran Share the Spoils

Qatar came from a goal down at home to claim a point against group E favorite Iran in a 1-1 draw.

After a scoreless first half, the match sprung to life just a minute into the second period. Iran took the lead through central defender Hadi Aghily and it appeared the away side would open up a lead on the other teams in the group.

However, less than 10 minutes later Qatar tied the score at one. Striker Mohamed El-Sayed scored his second career international goal for his side. That was the end of the scoring for the match and each team comes away with a well-earned point.

Group E is tight at the top now with Iran and Bahrain sharing the top spot with four points. Qatar is in third with two points because of its two draws against Bahrain and Iran. Indonesia sits bottom after two losses and a negative five goal difference.

Jordan Holds Off China For Important Win

Jordan took another major step toward advancing out of group A with a 2-1 victory over favorite China.

After a first half that was controlled by China, Jordan opened the second half with a purpose, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. First midfielder Baha'a Abdul-Rahman struck a fierce shot from over 20 yards out to give Jordan the lead. Amer Deeb capitalized on a defensive mistake by China to double the host's advantage in the 55th minute with his third goal of qualifying.

China halved the deficit two minutes later thanks to a goal by Hao Junmin. They continued to press for the equalizer, but were kept out by the organized Jordan defense and squandered its chances.

Jordan now sits atop group A all alone with six points. Iraq and China have three points apiece and face each other in October while Jordan travels to Singapore.

CONCACAF Round 2: Matchday Two Preview

The second games of round two in COCNACAF begin a few hours, where the groups will begin to look clearer.

Group A

Dominican Republic v Suriname

The Dominican Republic put in a nice performance in El Salvador, only losing 302 while Suriname struggled against the weak Cayman Islands and came away with a 1-0 win. The DR could pull an upset here, but Suriname will sort its issues out.

Prediction: Dominican Republic 1 Suriname 2

Cayman Islands v El Salvador

El Salvador travels to the Cayman Islands and the group A favorite should win by several goals. Cayman Islands held out against Suriname and only conceded once, but the Salvadoreans have a much more vaunted strike force that is headline by Rodolfo Zelaya.

Prediction: Cayman Islands 0 El Salvador 4

Group B

Barbados v Trinidad and Tobago

Barbados must try to rebound from a 2-0 loss to Guyana while Trinidad and Tobago is attempting to improve after its narrow 1-0 win against Bermuda. Striker Kenwyne Jones scored the lone goal versus Bermuda and will be looking for more against a Barbados side that heavily deployed the offside trap in the Guyana game.

Prediction: Barbados 0 Trinidad and Tobago 2

Guyana v Bermuda

Guyana plays its second home match in a row following a confidence building 2-0 win over Barbados. Bermuda impressed in its 1-0 loss to favorite Trinidad and Tobago and Khano Smith and company will be confident they can take points of Guyana. A win here for Guyana would be huge for its chances of advancing and they will not let that opportunity go to waste.

Prediction: Guyana 2 Bermuda 1

Group C

Nicaragua v Panama

This is the only group C match this round and sees Panama open its qualifying campaign. Nicaragua picked up a clutch away win in Dominica in the first match and has momentum entering this match. Panama is the huge favorite in this three-team group and is not expected to drop points to anyone.

Prediction: Nicaragua 0 Panama 2

Group D

Saint Lucia v Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia suffered a 4-1 opening loss to Canada while Saint Kitts and Nevis could not put a goal by Puerto Rico in a 0-0 result. SKN is the favorite in this match and should be able to glide by Saint Lucia, although the home side did have a nice first half against Canada.

Prediction: Saint Lucia 1 Saint Kitts and Nevis 3

Puerto Rico v Canada

Canada goes on its first of three Caribbean getaways in this round. After a tense first half, the Canadians found their scoring touch in the second 45 versus Saint Lucia. Puerto Rico picked up an away point in its opening draw, but needs a win here if they want any hope of advancing. Canada has been known to drop winnable games, but should have no problem here.

Prediction: Puerto Rico 0 Canada 2

Group E

Belize v Guatemala

This is the lone group E game as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada have rescheduled their game to September 18th. Belize produced the shock of the first round of games with its 3-0 win in Grenada. Guatemala won comfortably at home, 4-0 over Saint Vincent. This game is of added importance, whoever wins takes control of the group. Belize is brimming with confidence, but Guatemala has the superior players.

Prediction: Belize 1 Guatemala 2

Group F

U.S. Virgin Islands v Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda survived an early scare in its first match, but came back to defeat Curacao 5-2. The amateurs from the USVI suffered a 6-0 defeat to Haiti, but know host its first home game of the round. However, more of the same should be expected and Antigua and Barbuda is the huge favorite.

Prediction: U.S. Virgin Islands 0 Antigua and Barbuda 4

Curaçao vs Haiti

Curaçao took the lead against Antigua and Barbuda in its first ever official FIFA match. Although they eventually fell 5-2, it was a decent debut on the competitive stage. Haiti had no problems with the U.S. Virgin Islands and will find it a bit tougher in Curaçao. They still should have enough to win though.

Prediction: Curaçao 1 Haiti 3

Lebanon Shocks U.A.E.

Home side Lebanon pulled a huge upset against the U.A.E. with a surprisingly easy 3-1 victory. The result means Lebanon has already bettered its performance in this round compared to last cycle, where they lost all six games.

The U.A.E. actually took the lead in this match in the 15th minute through Mahmoud Khamees. Khamees rose highest to meet a free kick, and his header beat the keeper. The away side held the majority of possession throughout the match, but could not create much and had too many defensive problems.

Lebanon equalized on a penalty kick late in the first half. Mohammed Ghaddar took a slow run-up, and put the ball to the opposite side of the goalie's dive. It was not until the second half that Lebanon put its stamp on the match.

Akram Moghrabi escaped his marker at the far post and rifled home a cross to give the home side the lead in the 53rd minute. Great combination play put the game out of reach in the 83rd. A ball was crossed in from the right where Roda Antar was free at the far post and his header back across the goal left the keeper with no chance.

This result absolutely crushes the U.A.E. chances. They have dropped its two opening group games, both of which were winnable matches. The side must now try to take points off favorite South Korea. Lebanon now has a glimmer of hope in the group and must try to ride this momentum next month when they host Kuwait.

Japan, Uzbekistan Play Thrilling Draw

The two group C favorites demonstrated their quality in a back-and-forth 1-1 draw in Uzbekistan. The result guarantees that both remain at the joint-top of the group.

Uzbekistan started the match the better of the two sides, hitting the post in the first few minutes. They continued to press for the opener, which they were rewarded with in the eighth minute. A corner was not cleared by Japan, and 2008 Asian Footballer of the Year Server Djeparov volleyed home.

After the goal Japan turned up the pressure and were unlucky not to equalize before halftime. Ignatiy Nesterov played well in net for Uzbekistan, making a couple of nice saves. Right before the half, Japan struck the post.

Finally in the 65th, Japan's constant pressure resulted in a goal. A cross was played in from the right side and was met at the far post by Shinji Okazaki who scored with an amazing diving header.

Both sides had chances to win the match, but none were able to capitalize. They both have four points from the opening two matches, while North Korea sits third with three points in the group of death.

Bahrain Wins in Indonesia Amidst Crowd Trouble

Bahrain put its qualifying campaign back on track with a nice 2-0 road win in Indonesia. However, the bigger story of the game was the problems with the Indonesian crowd.

With Bahrain leading 2-0 late in the match, Indonesian fans began throwing fireworks onto the pitch, leading to the referee ordering both teams off the field. The story now becomes if FIFA will hand out any punishment to Indonesia as a result.

The actual match saw Sayed Dhiya give the visitors the lead right before halftime. His low right-footed shot found the far corner. Later in the second half, Indonesia's high defensive line proved to be its undoing. Ismail Abdul-Latif was able to get behind the defense to score the second goal and put the match out of reach, before the crowd problems began.

Bahrain now sits with four points from two games, a decent spot to be in this group. They travel to group E favorite Iran in October while Indonesia hosts Qatar. It remains to be seen if they will play that match in front of fans or not.

Iraq Rebounds in Singapore

Iraq and Singapore both dropped their opening game and desperately needed a win in this match. Iraq was low on confidence after its 2-0 defeat to Jordan while Singapore took positives from its 2-1 loss to China. However, none of that mattered in this match, two second half goals propelled Iraq to a 2-0 triumph.

After a scoreless first half, Alaa Al-Zahra struck the back of the net with a brilliant header to the corner following a flick-on from a teammate. It is Al-Zahra's second goal of qualifying, he scored against Yemen in round two.

Younis Mahmoud made sure of the three points in the 86th minute with his 35th international goal. A long ball was played into the box that he was able to touch over the keeper's head and into the goal.

This win gets Iraq back on track and the side will next face China on the road in October. Singapore on the other hand, loses its positive vibes from its performance against the Chinese, and must try to bounce back in Jordan.

Thailand Makes Statement Against Oman

Thailand put its stamp as a potential contender with a convincing 3-0 win over Oman. Sopong Soleb scored the first goal to send the side on its way to victory.

On a slick field, Thailand used some slick ball movement to spring Soleb free in the 34th minute where he finished nicely with his left foot. Just six minutes later, the home side had the ball in the back of the net again.

A ball over the top saw Teerasil Dangda out-muscle his defender before toe-poking a right-footed shot to the far post. Dangda now has two goals in two games.

Oman put in a dismal performance, which got even worse near the conclusion of the match. A cross toward goal was met by a Thailand player, but his header deflected off Rashid Al-Farsi and into the net for the third goal.

Thailand has put in consecutive strong performances, and has to be considered a real threat to beat Saudi Arabia out for the second spot in group D. Its next match is at home to Saudi Arabia in October, a huge one for both sides. Oman hosts Australia next month as they sit with one point from its two opening games.

North Korea Sputters to Win

North Korea picked up a crucial three points with a 1-0 home win over Tajikistan. Pak Nam-Choi was the lone goalscorer.

The goal came early on, in the 14th minute, when the central defender found the back of the net. It was his first international goal.

The win sees North Korea move off the bottom of the table while Tajikistan remains rooted down there with two losses in two games.

It does not get any easier for Tajikistan, they travel to Japan for the next match in October. North Korea hosts Uzbekistan in a critical encounter.

AFC Round Three: Matchday Two Preview

The second set of games in the third round of Asian qualifying take place Tuesday as some teams try to solidify their place at the top of the group while others look to rebound and get back in the thick of things.

Group A

Singapore v Iraq

This game features two teams moving in opposite directions. Singapore has been improving as a team and probably deserved more in its first game, a 2-1 defeat to China. On the other hand, Iraq has struggled mightily this year and was poor in its 2-0 loss to Jordan. This trend continues in the match.

Prediction: Singapore 1 Iraq 0

Jordan v China

Jordan was quite impressive in its opener in Iraq, winning comfortably. China needed a controversial penalty to come back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Singapore. A win for either team in this game will set them up nicely for advancing out of the group. Jordan has the momentum and should do enough to come out on top.

Prediction: Jordan 2 China 1

Group B

Lebanon v U.A.E.

Lebanon needs some positive vibes after its humiliating 6-0 loss to South Korea. The U.A.E. could also use a little momentum following its 3-2 home defeat to Kuwait. If U.A.E. has any hope of moving onward, this game is a must win. They get the win and Lebanon continues to demonstrate that it may be the worst time left in Asian qualifying.

Prediction: Lebanon 0 U.A.E. 2

Kuwait v South Korea

Kuwait's huge victory in the U.A.E. will see them confident they can take some points off group favorite South Korea. Park Chu-Young looks to add to his hat-trick in the 6-0 win against Lebanon. If Kuwait can take a point from this game it leaves them in good shape, but South Korea has too much depth and quality.

Prediction: Kuwait 1 South Korea 2

Group C

North Korea v Tajikistan

North Korea held out for 90 minutes against Japan, but unfortunately conceded in added time. Tajkistan also leaked a second half goal, falling 1-0 to Uzbekistan. Neither team created much offense in their first games and need to improve if they want to advance. A draw does nobody good in this match, but that is where the game appears headed toward.

Prediction: North Korea 1 Tajikistan 1

Uzbekistan v Japan

Both of these teams managed to do just enough in their first matches to obtain three points. Japan needs to be worried about its inability to finish against North Korea and knows that they can not get away with missing chances in Uzbekistan. The home side is confident they can compete with the elite teams of Asia, but in the end they still lack the skill that Japan possesses.

Prediction: Uzbekistan 0 Japan 1

Group D

Thailand v Oman

Thailand had one of the better performances in the opening matches, but came away with nothing in Australia. Despite the 2-1 loss, they should have taken many positives from the performance. Oman held Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw and needs a win here if they have hopes of finishing in the top two. This has the potential of being an open and exciting match with both sides going all out for the win.

Prediction: Thailand 3 Oman 1

Saudi Arabia v Australia

Saudi Arabia needs this match. They lacked creativity versus Oman and must improve against the favorite in the group Australia. Frank Rijkaard has to find answers quickly or else his side could be facing a major uphill battle. Australia survived an early scare against Thailand, although its performance was far from strong. Playing in Saudi Arabia is never easy, and a point gained will be a well-earned one.

Prediction: Saudi Arabia 1 Australia 1

Group E

Indonesia v Bahrain

Indonesia fell apart in the second half in its first game against Iran, falling 3-0. Bahrain had a terrible outing at home to Qatar and stumbled to a draw. Bahrain needs a win in order to get back in the thick of things, but will find it a tough task in front of a raucous and packed Indonesian crowd, a far cry from the paltry 6,000 that showed up for the Qatar match. This could be the upset of the round

Prediction: Indonesia 1 Bahrain 0

Qatar v Iran

Qatar did pick up a road point versus Bahrain, but they know they are capable of a much better performance. Iran's second half blitz against Indonesia reinforced the idea that they are the team to beat in group E. The away side should not have much of a problem in Qatar and will put its stamp on the group.

Prediction: Qatar 0 Iran 2

CONCACAF Results and Highlights

Here are the results for the first match day for CONCACAF's round two. These games are often not televised, so apologies for the lack of highlights from some games.

Group A

Suriname 1 Cayman Islands 0

Suriname played to a sluggish victory in its opening game, although they may be disappointed they did not win by more. The lone goal was scored early on, a 11th minute penalty by Frisco Mando. Cayman Islands, possibly the weakest side in group A, put in a solid performance against the stronger Suriname.

El Salvador 3 Dominican Republic 2

Rodolfo Zelaya had two goals, including the eventual game-winner, as El Salvador survived a late scare to beat the Dominican Republic.

After a scoreless first half, the match sprung to life in the 54th minute when Zelaya struck for his first tally. Ten minutes later it appeared the Salvadoreans wrapped up the three points after Christian Bautista put one past the keeper.

However, it took only two minutes for the Dominicans to answer back through Jhoan Cruz. Zelaya added his second on a penalty in the 78th to restore El Salvador's two-goal advantage. Domingo Peralta pulled one back in the 90th, but it was too little, too late for the Dominican Republic.



Group B

Trinidad and Tobago 1 Bermuda 0

Captain Kenwyne Jones scored on a volley in the last minute of the first half to lead Trinidad and Tobago to a 1-0 win over a pesky Bermuda side. Bermuda, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago away in 2010 qualifying, defended well and were unlucky to fail to gain a point from the match.

Despite holding the majority of possession, T&T lacked the ability to create scoring chances. Bermuda will grow in confidence following this result, while Trinidad and Tobago knows they need to improve if they want to top the group.



Guyana 2 Barbados 0

A goal in either half saw potential group B spoiler Guyana get off to a positive start with a 2-0 triumph against Barbados. Shawn Beveny beat the offside trap in the 25h minute to put Guyana up. Charles Pollard then made sure of the win with a goal in the 75th minute.

Guyana now travels to Bermuda with high hopes of gaining six points from its opening two games. Barbados looks to rebound at home to Trinidad and Tobago after a rather sluggish performance.

Group C

Dominica 0 Nicaragua 2

Nicaragua upset Dominica 2-0 on the road to get its campaign of to a flying start. The Nicaraguans scored in the first minute through Raul Leguias. A half hour later, the away side doubled its lead thanks to a Felix Rodriguez goal.

Dominica now has a month to rebound from its disappointing opening in this three team group. Meanwhile, Nicaragua will try to ride its momentum gained when they host favorite and Central American rival Panama on Tuesday.

Group D

Canada 4 Saint Lucia 1

Canada survived an early scare to pick up a 4-1 opening victory thanks to three second half goals. Josh Simpson had two goals in the game.

Simpson opened the scoring in the sixth minute, scoring after his shot was deflected into the corner of the net. Just a minute later Saint Lucia struck back thanks to a Tremain Paul strike from distance. Saint Lucia held out until halftime and had hopes of pulling off a shock.

However, Dwayne De Rosario, Simpson and Will Johnson all scored in the latter half as Canada's quality eventually showed through. The Canadians now travel to Puerto Rico while Saint Lucia will host Saint Kitts and Nevis.



Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 Puerto Rico 0

In a result that benefits neither side, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico played to a 0-0 draw. Both teams squandered several chances in an otherwise uneventful match. SKN grew in quality in the second half and were the better side, but could not tally a goal.

Group E

Grenada 0 Belize 3

In the most shocking result of qualifying so far, Belize shocked Grenada with a comfortably 3-0 away win. Deon McCauley continued his fine goal-scoring form for his country, scoring a brace in the match.

McCauley, who scored four goals in two matches against Montserrat in round one, struck in the 11th minute to give the underdogs the advantage. Harrison Róches added the second in the 35th minute and McCauley put the game out of reach in the 79th.

Belize will try to continue its great start at home against neighbor Guatemala while Grenada tries to get back on track with a road game at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Guatemala 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0

Combined with Grenada's shocking defeat, Guatemala should feel hugely confident of winning group E after its comfortable 4-0 win.

Two goals in each half by the Guatemalans showed their superior quality over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Star man Marco Pappa opened the scoring in the 16th minute. A 30th minute goal by Yony Flores extended the side's lead before the break.

Mario Rodriguez and Freddy Garcia were on the mark in the second half for Guatemala. They now travel to Belize where a win would give them a huge advantage in the group.

Group F

Haiti 6 U.S. Virgin Islands 0

Haiti demonstrated its superior quality against the amateurs from the U.S. Virgin Islands in a 6-0 win.

The game was never in doubt for the Haitians and they had five different players on target. James Marcelin opened Haiti's account in the 19th minute and the rout was on.

Jean Alexandre scored the fifth and sixth goals for Haiti, who are the favorites in group F. Ricardo Pierre-Louis, Jean-Eudes Maurice and Jean Monuma were the other goal-scorers for the home side.

Antigua and Barbuda 5 Curaçao 2

Curaçao took a surprising lead through Rihairo Meulens in the ninth minute, and an upset may have been on the cards for the nation playing its first official FIFA international. However, Anitgua and Barbuda took control of the game with three straight goals.

Marc Joseph tied the match at one in the 30th, and 10 minutes later Quinton Griffith gave the home side the lead. Tamarely Thomas put one in the back of the net in the 55th to ease Antigua and Barbuda's fears.

Richmar Siberie pulled one back for Curaçao in the 71st to make the score 3-2. However, the home nation responded well with two straight goals by Peter Byers.

Anitgua and Barbuda travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday while Curaçao will host Haiti.

Highlights from Today's Asian Qualifying Games

Australia came from behind to beat Thailand 2-1



South Korea crushed Lebanon 6-0



A goal in added time saw Japan get by North Korea by the skin of its teeth, 1-0.



China also overturned a 1-0 deficit, winning a controversial match 2-1.



Jordan traveled to Iraq and posted an impressive 2-0 victory.



Uzbekistan won one of the Stan derbies 1-0 against Tajikistan. (no highlights yet)

Oman held Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw. (no highlights yet)

Kuwait won the most exciting match of the day 3-2 in the U.A.E.



Iran cruised to a 3-0 win against Indonesia thanks to three goals in the second half.



Bahrain and Qatar stumbled to a scoreless draw against each other, 0-0. (no highlights yet)

Bahrain and Qatar Play Uninspiring Draw

Host Bahrain and Qatar are left to rue missed opportunities in a 0-0 as each side will be disappointed with the result.

In a game played in front of a sparse crowd in Bahrain, both sides had their chances, but lacked the killer edge needed to pounce. The two rivals need to step up their performances if they hope to advance out of group E.

With the delicate political situation in Bahrain, many fans seemed more interested in displaying their banners instead of cheering on the national side.

Bahrain now travels to Indonesia in what may be a must-win game for them while Qatar has to try and get a result at home versus Iran.

Iran Pushes Aside Indonesia

Iran left it until the second half, but ran three goals by Indonesia for a comfortable 3-0 win.

Osasuna man Javad Nekounam scored the first two, in the 53rd and 74th minute, to ease any potential fears of an upset by Indonesia. Longtime national team member Andranik Teymourian made sure of all three points by adding a goal late in the 87th minute.

Iran is the group E favorite and continues group play on Tuesday when they travel to the host of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar. Indonesia will be pleased with how they played in the first half, and will try to get a win when they host Bahrain.

Kuwait Edges U.A.E. In Thriller

Kuwait opened the third round of qualifying with a huge win on the road after surviving a late U.A.E. comeback. The side raced out to a 3-0 lead, only to concede twice in the final 10 minutes to set up a nervy last minute.

Yousef Al-Sulaiman was the star man for Kuwait, scoring a brace, and Bader Al-Mutwa scored a fantastic goal to help the team to a flying start.

Al-Sulaiman first struck in the eighth minute with a right-footed shot in the box. Kuwait held that lead through halftime when Al-Mutwa connected on a wonderstrike. A free kick was played short to his feet when he looked up, saw the goalkeeper out of position and struck a ferocious drive into the top corner from over 30 yards out. Al-Sulaiman then took advantage of a lazy back pass to put Kuwait three goals clear.

They may have grown too complacent with the lead however, as U.A.E. did show some fight to get back in the game. Ismaeel Al-Hamadi beat a couple of men in the box before firing low for a goal in the 84th and just five minutes later headed home a cross unmarked. Unfortunately for the U.A.E. it was too little, too late.

Kuwait sits second in group B to South Korea, and will host that side on Tuesday. Meanwhile, U.A.E. hopes to get its campaign back on track when they travel to Lebanon.

Oman Holds Saudi Arabia

The coaching debut of Frank Rijkaard as Saudi Arabia manager left a lot to be desired as his side were unable to break down Oman.

The hosts played a mostly defensive style throughout and refused to budge, frustrating the Saudis. Both sides come away from the game disappointed that they could not take all three points, although it may come back to hurt Saudi Arabia more.

Australia's win over Thailand puts them top of group D at the moment, with Oman and Saudi Arabia sharing second place. Thailand hosts Oman on Tuesday while Saudi Arabia travels back home to face Australia in a crucial match.

Jordan Gets Huge Win in Iraq

Jordan took a massive step towards advancing out of the third round, winning 2-0 in Iraq with two goals either side of halftime.

Star midfielder Hassan Abdel Fattah continued his scoring ways for the national side. After scoring four goals in a game against Nepal in round two, he opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, getting his toe to a cross to the far post.

The side doubled its advantage almost as soon as the second half started. After some good work down the right side, a ball was played into the box and headed toward goal by Bashar Bani Yaseen. The header found the post, but bounded right back to him. Yaseen corralled the ball in, took a couple touches and fired a shot by the keeper to solidify the points for Jordan.

Jordan is now at the top of group A on goal difference while Iraq is bottom of the table. The debut of Zico as Iraq's manager did not go so well, and he will try to get the team to rebound Tuesday in Singapore. Jordan hosts China on Tuesday as well.

China Claws Back Against Singapore

China avoided a potential upset by turning a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 2-1 win over Singapore. Zhi Zheng equalized on a controversial penalty just four minutes before Hai Yu scored the game-winner in the 74th minute.

Singapore had taken a shock lead on a nice counterattack just over a half hour into the game. China lost the ball with numbers forward, leading to a two on one break for Singapore. The ball was played to Alexander Duric who finished with his left foot on a near post shot.

After the halftime China began to pressure more and more, and eventually won a penalty. The penalty was saved by the Singaporean backup keeper, Lionel Lewis, and the rebound was put over the bar. However, less than ten minutes later the referee pointed to the spot again.

A long ball was played into the box and the referee ruled that Shaiful Esah pulled his man down, although replays showed that the man went down fairly easy. This time China made no mistake from the penalty spot, with Zheng slotting the ball home. China escaped with a victory when Yu tapped in a rebound after Lewis could only parry the ball into his path.

China now travels to Jordan while Singapore tries to regroup at home against Iraq.

Uzbekistan Wins in Tajikistan

Uzbekistan opened its third round with a nice 1-0 road victory in Tajikistan. Maksim Shatskikh scored the lone goal of the game in the second half.

The Arsenal Kyiv striker struck in the 74th minute of an evenly contested match. The road win sees Uzbekistan get off to a positive start. Meanwhile, Tajikistan was playing its first match since being reinstated to the competition following the disqualification of Syria.

Uzbekistan now sits top of group C along with Japan while Tajikistan and North Korea sit bottom of the table. The two sides at the top of the table square off on Tuesday along with the two bottom sides.

South Korea Thrashes Lebanon

South Korea open its qualifying campaign in style with a 6-0 destruction of Lebanon. New Arsenal signing Park Chu-Young led the way with three goals of his own.

Chu-Young opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he volleyed a cross in with his right foot. He added his second just on the stroke of halftime, rising highest on a corner kick to the far post.

In the second half things really began to open up for the Koreans. Ji Dong-Won scored the first of his two goals in the 66th minute, before Chu-Young completed his hat-trick a minute later.

Korea completed the route with two more late goals. First Kim Jung-Woo was on target in the 82nd minute and then a few minutes later Dong-Won added his second of the game.

The win puts South Korea atop group B, and they continue play Tuesday at Kuwait. Lebanon tries to regroup and hosts U.A.E. on the same day.

Yoshida Saves Japan in Added Time

Mazya Yoshida scored from a corner in injury time to give Japan a narrow 1-0 home win over North Korea.

With North Korea down to 10 men, Japan pressed forward as time ran out. After a succession of close opportunities from corners, a short corner was crossed in that found Yoshida unmarked about six yards out, who finished with a powerful header.

Prior to the goal Japan had gone close a few times through Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa. Goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk kept the North Koreans in the match for much of the game, producing two splendid saves late on. Prior to the goal, Japan also saw a shot bounce off the crossbar.

Japan gets an important three points in group C, while North Korea loses an opportunity to gain a crucial point. Japan travels to Uzbekistan for its next game and the North Koreans host Tajikistan

Australia Holds Off Thai Upset Bid

Australia came from behind to open its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over upstart Thailand. Josh Kennedy and Alex Brosque were the goal scorers for the home side.

Thailand took a shock lead in the 15th minute through Teerasil Dangda. Good interplay down the right resulted in a cross to the far post, which Dangda finished with a low shot across the goal. Australia controlled much of the first half, but Thailand defended well and went into halftime with a deserved lead.

The Aussies eventually made their pressure tell in the 58th minute. Neil Kilkenny played Matt McKay through down the left, McKay's shot was saved, but the rebound fell right to Kennedy who finished easily. From there Australia began to press for a winner.

Tim Cahill had a goal ruled out because of a foul on the goalkeeper, and had a header saved well a few minutes later. Lucas Neil also had a header saved with about five minutes left and time winding down for Australia.

A minute later the comeback was completed. McKay crossed in from the left and Kennedy's knockdown found Brosque, who took one touch and finished low.

Australia travels to Saudi Arabia for its next game while Thailand hosts Oman.

CONCACAF Round 2: Matchday One Preview

CONCACAF resumes its qualifying with the beginning of the second round tomorrow. The winners of each group will join the USA, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Cuba in the next group stage.

Group A

El Salvador v Dominican Republic

The Salvadorians are the big favorite in this group and should easily dispatch the minnows of the Dominican Republic. While the DR has improved recently, the side is still a long ways off of competing with the quality that El Salvador has.

Prediction: El Salvador 4 Dominican Republic 0

Suriname v Cayman Islands

Suriname may be the sleeper in this round, they have a decent talent pool to choose from. On the other hand, the Cayman Islands is one of the weaker teams in the round and will find any points hard to come by.

Prediction: Suriname 5 Cayman Islands 1

Group B

Trinidad and Tobago v Bermuda

These sides faced off in round two of 2010 qualifying, with T&T advancing 3-2 on aggregate. Bermuda did win in Trinidad, 2-1, before falling 2-0 at home. Khano Smith leads the way for Bermuda, as Otto Pfister tries to guide Trinidad and Tobago back to the World Cup.

Prediction: Trinidad and Tobago 2 Bermuda 0

Guyana v Barbados

Two average sides in CONCACAF play in an essential game for both teams. Each has an outside shot at winning the group and three points are absolute must for both. Guyana is a little better and should have enough to win at home.

Prediction: Guyana 3 Barbados 2

Group C

Dominica v Nicaragua

Neither of these sides will win the group, that honor will go to Panama, who does not have a game due to the withdrawal of the Bahamas. These teams appear fairly even and a draw is likely, although Dominica has the slight edge of pulling out a win.

Prediction: Dominica 1 Nicaragua 1

Group D

Canada v Saint Lucia

Canada opens its campaign in Toronto at BMO Field where they take on Saint Lucia, who defeated Aruba to get to this point. The two nations are in stark contrast to each other, one a giant country that is often cold, the other a tiny Caribbean island. The advantage clearly goes to Canada, who could run up the score pretty badly.

Prediction: Canada 7 Saint Lucia 0

Saint Kitts and Nevis v Puerto Rico

This is one of the better matchups of the round and should provide an exciting game. SKN is better on paper, but Puerto Rico has been improving rapidly over the past few years and may cause a slight upset in this game.

Prediction: Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 Puerto Rico 1

Group E

Grenada v Belize

Belize is fortunate to still be in the competition after being suspended by FIFA earlier this summer. The worst team in Central America has a tough task in what may be the strongest group from top to bottom. Grenada wins this game going away.

Prediction: Grenada 4 Belize 1

Guatemala v Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

"Vincy Heat" travels to Guatemala as both sides open their campaigns. Guatemala is the favorite here, but Vincy Heat has a solid group of players. If Guatemala is not careful they could be upset.

Prediction: Guatemala 2 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0

Group F

Haiti v U.S. Virgin Islands

The USVI is the Cinderella story of CONCACAF after the side picked up its first two qualifying wins in history in the first round. However, the road gets a lot tougher for the team and they are huge underdogs to even get a point in this round. Haiti should expect a big win in this game.

Prediction: Haiti 5 U.S. Virgin Islands 0

Antigua and Barbuda v Curaçao

Antigua and Barbuda has quietly become one of the Caribbean's better teams over the last couple of years. They host Curaçao who will be playing its first competitive games since taking over the record of the Netherlands Antilles. Anitgua and Barbuda can win this group and should get off to a nice start by earning a comfortable opening victory.

Prediction: Antigua and Barbuda 3 Curaçao 1

AFC Round Three: Matchday One Preview

The third round of AFC qualifying starts tomorrow. Here are the matches that will be taking place, home team listed first.

Group A

China v Singapore

Jose Antonio Camacho coaches his first game in charge of China. Longtime Singapore manager Radojko Avramović faces an uphill battle. China should win this one comfortably.

Prediction: China 2 Singapore 0

Iraq v Jordan

Zico oversees his first competitive game in charge for Iraq against a rising Jordan team. This game could go a long way to deciding which teams advance out of the group. It finishes in a draw, a positive result for Jordan

Prediction: Iraq 1 Jordan 1

Group B

South Korea v Lebanon

The South Koreans open its qualifying campaign without longtime star Ji-Sung Park because of international retirement and Chung-Yong Lee due to injury. However, they still should easily cruise by Lebanon.

Prediction: South Korea 3 Lebanon 0

U.A.E. v Kuwait

Another game that could go a long way in deciding who gets the second spot in the group. Both sides had disappointing Asian Cups, but have rebounded with solid results since. This game could go either way, but the home side gets a narrow win.

Prediction: U.A.E. 2 Kuwait 1

Group C

Japan v North Korea

The Asian Cup winners host the North Koreans in the first qualifying matches for each team. Japan are without two of its best players in Keisuke Honda and Kengo Nakamura, but still should have enough to beat a struggling North Korean side.

Prediction: Japan 3 North Korea 1

Tajikistan v Uzbekistan

Tajikistan gets another life in the competition after being reinstated following the disqualification of Syria. In the battle of the Stans, they square off against potential sleeper Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is favored in this game and should come away with a nice road win.

Prediction: Uzbekistan 1 Tajikistan 0

Group D

Australia v Thailand

The heavily favored Socceroos host Thailand in Brisbane. The Aussies should easily win this game, especially since Thailand is without its starting goalkeeper and best defender because of injury.

Prediction: Australia 4 Thailand 0

Oman v Saudi Arabia

Typical powerhouse Saudi Arabia had a shocking Asian Cup and Oman has high hopes for an upset. Frank Rijkaard will coach his first match as Saudi Arabian manager and needs a positive result to quell some fears in camp. I think this is the shock of the round as Oman gets a result.

Prediction: Oman 1 Saudi Arabia 1

Group E:

Iran v Indonesia

Indonesia faces an uphill battle traveling to a superior Iran side, and the visitors best hope will be to try and get a draw out of things. Unfortunately for them, Iran's quality is too much and should win by several.

Prediction: Iran 3 Indonesia 0

Bahrain v Qatar

The host of the 2022 World Cup travel to Bahrain in an uncertain political climate. On the field however, Qatar has struggled as of late with two friendly losses in August. Bahrain should have a energetic homer crowd on hand and be able to come away with a win.

Prediction: Bahrain 2 Qatar 1