Uzbekistan, Qatar and Oman stormed into the 2015 Asian Cup Tuesday but China hit a stumbling block and Iran's bid was complicated by the fall-out of a deadly suicide blast. The Uzbeks and Oman both left it late before downing Hong Kong and Syria respectively, while 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar booked their spot with a 1-0 win over Malaysia.
However, China's bid will go down to the wire after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, while Iran will have to play Tuesday's away game with Lebanon behind closed doors after a suicide blast struck outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut. Officials barred fans from the qualifier, where Iran need only a draw to go through, after the double suicide attack killed at least 23 people.
Tuesday's results mean 10 teams are now confirmed for the next Asian Cup, including hosts Australia and defending champions Japan, midway through the penultimate full round of qualifiers. However China, a sleeping giant of Asian football, set themselves up for a tough final game away against 2007 winners Iraq after failing to break down already qualified Saudi Arabia in Xian.
The team led by caretaker manager Fu Bo and watched by his mooted successor, Guangzhou Evergrande boss Marcello Lippi, made all the running but just failed to deliver the killer blow. Guangzhou right-back Zhang Linpeng had a strong late penalty shout turned down and with the last kick of the game, his club team-mate Huang Bowen put a free-kick inches wide.
Meanwhile pool rivals Iraq beat Indonesia 2-0 in Jakarta to pull within two points of China, who currently occupy Group C's second automatic qualifying spot behind leaders Saudi Arabia. The teams will meet in March with China needing to avoid defeat to escape the embarrassment of sitting out the Asian Cup for the first time since their debut appearance in 1976.
Elsewhere, in Tehran, Oman left it until the first minute of injury time to secure their vital 1-0 win over Syria courtesy of a first-time strike from midfielder Eid Al Farsi. Syria have been forced to play their games in neighbouring Iran because of the ongoing civil war in their homeland.
Uzbekistan also put on a late show in Hong Kong after Vokhid Shodiev and Odil Ahmedov's goals in the 84th and 89th minutes grabbed a 2-0 win and ensured their qualification from Group E. Kuwait will also go make it to the quadrennial tournament if they beat Thailand, as long as Iran also win.
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