Group A
Singapore 0 China 4
Singapore's dismal performance in the group stage continued with a resounding 4-0 defeat at home. Despite being eliminated from qualifying, China regained some pride with its big victory. Yu Hai and Li Weifeng scored the first two goals for the Chinese while Zheng Zheng added a late brace.
Jordan 1 Iraq 3
Iraq secured a spot in the fourth round with a comeback 3-1 win in Jordan. The already qualified Jordan took the lead early when Hassan Abdel-Fattah scored yet another goal for the home side. However, Iraq came out a different side in the second half and ran three goals by Jordan. Nashat Akram tallied a brace sandwiched in between the go-ahead goal from Qusay Munir.
Group B
Lebanon 2 South Korea 1
Lebanon continued its miraculous run in round three by pulling an absolutely stunning upset over favorite South Korea. Ali Al Saadi opened the scoring for the hosts in just the fifth minute to give the side confidence. South Korea did equalize in the 20th minute when Koo Ja-Cheol successfully converted a penalty kick. Lebanon won a penalty of its own 10 minutes later, and Abbas Ali Atwi knocked it home. The win now moves Lebanon into second place in the group and leaves it wide open for the final fixture day in February.
Kuwait 2 U.A.E. 1
Kuwait saved its chances of making the fourth round of qualifying by coming back from a 1-0 deficit at home to the U.A.E. The U.A.E. appeared headed for its first points of the round when Ismail Matar knocked one home in the 18th minute. After the halftime break, Kuwait began to play its way back into the match. Fahad Al Enzi tied the score in the 49th minute and Kuwait got the game-winner courtesy of an own-goal in the 68th minute.
Group C
North Korea 1 Japan 0
The already eliminated North Korea picked up its second win of the third round against the mighty Japan, who were resting several players. Pak Nam-Choi had the only strike of the match in the 50th minute. North Korea had to hold on for the final 13 minutes with 10 men as well.
Uzbekistan 3 Tajikistan 0
Uzbekistan moved back into first place in group C courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Tajikistan. Sanzhar Tursunov, Odil Ahmedov and Alexander Geynrikh had the goals for Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, this campaign can not end quick enough for Tajikistan who still have not scored a goal in this round.
Group D
Thailand 0 Australia 1
Australia clinched its spot in the fourth round of qualifying thanks to a narrow 1-0 win in Thailand. After a scoreless first half Brett Holman struck in the 76th minute for the only goal of the match. Thailand now needs to win its final match in Oman in order to have a shot at joining Australia in the next round.
Saudi Arabia 0 Oman 0
In a critical match for each side, neither Saudi Arabia nor Oman could put a shot in the back of the net and each were left to rue a missed opportunity to take control of the second spot in group D. Saudi Arabia still remains there, but only by one point over Oman and two ahead of Thailand.
Group E
Indonesia 1 Iran 4
Iran is now assured of progression to the fourth round after easily dispatching Indonesia on the road. After 25 minutes Iran was already three goals up and able to cruise to victory. Milad Meydavoudi had the opener in the seventh minute followed by strikes from Mojtaba Jabbari and Gholamreza Rezaei just minutes apart. Indonesia pulled a goal back right on the brink of halftime courtesy of Bambang Pamungkas to make it 3-1. Iran ended any slim hope of an Indonesia fightback in the 72nd when Javad Nekounam converted a penalty.
Qatar 0 Bahrain 0
Bahrain may have missed its chance to finish ahead of Qatar by failing to pick up all three points in this goalless draw. Qatar now remains three points ahead of Bahrain and has a hefty advantage when it comes to goal difference with just one game to go. Both meetings between these two sides in round three resulted in 0-0 draws.
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