World Cup crunch matches for South Korea and Australia
Home wins vital as qualifying competition reaches penultimate stage
With Japan becoming the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup last week, the focus in Asian qualifying turns to the progress of South Korea and Australia.
South Korea, trying to qualify for the finals for the eighth consecutive time, play Uzbekistan in a key match in group A today. The Koreans lead the group and can be all but assured of a spot in Brazil with a win over second-placed Uzbekistan in Seoul.
The Australians, meanwhile, will need a win against Jordan in Melbourne to move into second spot in group B and stay in the hunt for a third consecutive trip to the World Cup.
These are the key match-ups in the penultimate set of games that will determine the four direct entries from Asia. The top two teams in each group will qualify, with the third-placed teams in each group meeting in a play-off for the right to face a South American team for a place in the draw.
Japan, with the luxury of knowing they have qualified for Brazil with a match to spare, take on Iraq at Doha, Qatar, while Iran host Lebanon in Tehran.
South Korea and Uzbekistan are level with 11 points each in group A, though South Korea hold the edge in goal differential. Iran are in third place with 10 points, with Qatar in fourth with seven and Lebanon in last place with five.
Australia find themselves in a precarious position in third place with seven points in group B, two behind Oman with one match in hand. But if the Australians can win two home matches in eight days against Jordan and Iraq, they should clinch the second direct qualifying spot. Oman have played seven matches and will face Jordan away next week in their last match.