Japan, Jordan progress

Uzbeks edge N Korea to enter fourth round

South Korea also edged towards one of the 10 places in the fourth round when they won 2-0 away at United Arab Emirates while Saudi Arabia recorded a much-needed 3-0 home win over Thailand to get their campaign back on track.

Late goals by Lee Keun-ho and captain Park Chu-young left the Koreans in a position to advance from Group B on Tuesday if they beat lowly Lebanon.

Earlier in Dushanbe, Japan thrashed Tajikistan 4-0 before Uzbekistan beat North Korea 1-0 at home to send the duo through from Group C with 10 points from four matches.

In the fourth round the 10 teams will be split in to two groups of five with the top two from each guaranteed a place at the 2014 finals in Brazil.

Jordan booked their place with a 2-0 home win over Singapore in Group A. They look set to be joined by former Asian champions Iraq who beat China 1-0.

Iraqi skipper Younus Mahmood was again the thorn in the side of Jose Antonio Camacho's side as he grabbed a second-half winner for the 'home side' in the Group A match played in Qatar because of security fears. Qatar are level with Iran on eight points from four matches after they eased past Indonesia 4-0 in Doha with former Asian Player of the Year Ibrahim Khalfan scoring twice.