Iraq hands coach Zico first victoryJEDDAH – Australia defeated host Saudi Arabia 3-1 in a Group D match of the World Cup qualifiers at Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam Tuesday. Striker Joshua Kennedy put the visitors in the lead in the 40th minute and made it 2-0 in the 56th minute. Eleven minutes later, substitute striker Nasser Al-Shamrani succeeded, from the spot, to reduce the margin in the 65th minute for host. However, defender Luke Wilkshire scored from the spot in the 77th minute to seal it 3-1. Elsewhere, Iraq and Thailand were comfortable winners while North Korea labored to a 1-0 home victory over Tajikistan to get their first points on the board. Former Asian Cup winner Iraq beat Singapore 2-0 away in Group A. Newly appointed Iraq coach and Brazilian legend Zico had lamented his side's propensity to squander goalscoring chances. Later in Amman, China fell 2-1 to Jordan. In Group D, Thailand was easy 3-0 winner over Oman in Bangkok. The second Group C game saw Uzbekistan and Asian giants Japan share the points 1-1. In Group E Bahrain ran out 2-0 winner over Indonesia in Jakarta and in Doha 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar drew 1-1 with Iran. Srecko Katanec was sacked as coach of the United Arab Emirates following a 3-1 away defeat by Group B rival Lebanon. The other Group B tie ended in a 1-1 draw between Kuwait and South Korea in Kuwait City.
