UAE boost WC qualifying hopes, Son shines for S. Korea; Saudi hold Australia

The UAE reignited their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 campaign after defeating Kyrgyz Republic 3-0 in their Group A tie at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday.

The win moved UAE to seven points at the midway stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers while Kyrgyz Republic remained on three.

It was an action-packed first half with both sides threatening early on with Kyrgyz Republic’s Gulzhigit Alykulov sent his headed attempt straight at keeper Khalid Eisa, while UAE ‘s Fabio Lima flashed his attempt from outside the box over the bar.

Lima had another chance in the eighth minute when Caio Canedo threaded a through ball into the area, only for the midfielder to bungle his effort with Kyrgyz Republic keeper Erzhan Tokotayev making a routine save.

UAE continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession with Yahya Al Ghassani and Lima causing problems while at the other end, Alykulov forced a save from Khalid Eisa.

A careless backpass in the 15th minute became a nightmare for Kayrat Zhyrgalbek, as Harib Abdalla Suhail intercepted the ball before rounding Tokotayev to slot into an unguarded net.

The Central Asian side scrambled to overturn the deficit, but efforts from Alimardon Shukurov in the 17th minute and Alimardon Shukurov’s eight minutes failed to trouble Eiisa.

Tokotayev showed his best in the 35th minute when he pulled off a fine save to deny Al Ghassani off a free-kick, only to be caught out from distance moments later by Marcus Meloni as UAE doubled their lead.

Eisa then denied Valeriy Kichin from distance in the 39th minute before stopping Zhyrgalbek from point-blank range to preserve UAE’s lead going into the break.

Kyrgyz Republic sent Andriy Mishchenko, Nurlanbek Sarykbaev, Kimi Merk and Beknaz Almazbekov into the mix but a second-half fightback didn’t materialise with Abdalla Suhail netting his second of the evening in the 86th minute to seal the win.

UAE play Qatar next while Kyrgyz Republic will have their hands full against Islamic Republic of Iran on Matchday Six.

Earlier,, Son Heung-min scored a landmark 50th goal for his country to put South Korea a step closer to the World Cup on Thursday as Australia and Saudi Arabia cancelled each other out.

Spurs and South Korean skipper Son missed last month’s qualifiers with injury but celebrated his return with a first-half penalty in a 3-1 win at Kuwait.

Victory left South Korea comfortably top of Group B with four wins and a draw after five matches and on course for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The top two teams in each of the three Asian qualifying groups will reach the showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With this phase of qualifying approaching a halfway point, South Korea took a 10th-minute lead in Kuwait when striker Oh Se-hun rose highest to powerfully head home.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors after Son -- playing in his 130th game for South Korea -- won the penalty and then picked himself up to bury it with minimum fuss.

Mohammad Daham struck on the hour to halve the deficit with a delicious half-volley.

But substitute Bae Jun-ho, who had replaced Son, made the game safe for South Korea with their third 14 minutes later when he refiled in at the near post.

In Group C, Saudi Arabia had a goal disallowed in added time in a 0-0 draw against Australia in Melbourne that did neither side any favours in their bid to qualify.

In his first game back in charge following the sacking of Roberto Mancini, Herve Renard thought his visitors had snatched a late winner when Sultan Al-Ghannam fired home from just inside the box in the 93rd minute.