Japan, Australia score easy victories

Japan crushed Tajikistan 8-0 in Osaka with Mike Havenaar, Shinji Okazaki and midfielder Shinji Kagawa scoring two goals each. Uzbekistan maintained their unbeaten run as Alexander Geynrikh's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win over North Korea in Pyongyang.

Australia beat Oman 3-0 through Brett Holman's goal after seven minutes and second-half strikes from Josh Kennedy and Mile Jedinak sank Oman. Younis Mahmoud scored the winner in the 45th minute as China lost 0-1 to 10-man Iraq, coached by Brazilian Zico, in Shenzhen.

2022 World Cup hosts Qatar had to dig deep in Jakarta to win 3-2 against a resilient
Indonesian side, who twice came from behind to level. An own goal from Hamdan Al Kamali and skipper Park Chu-young's fifth goal in the qualifiers gave South Korea a narrow 2-1 home win over United Arab Emirates.

Panama advance
Panama became the first CONCACAF team to progress to the third phase of World Cup qualifying after a 5-1 win over Nicaragua Tuesday. Blas Perez scored a hat-trick for Panama while Luis Tejada was on target twice to eliminate Nicaragua.

Canada are close to joining Panama despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Puerto Rico Tuesday. Trinidad and Tobago's proved were too much for Barbados with Lester Peltier grabbing a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory.