Japan, South Korea and Australia became the first teams to advance to the 2010 World Cup Finals on Saturday, leaving just one direct qualification place still up for grabs from Asia. Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Group One and was the first team through for the second time in a row, having also set the pace for the 2006 Finals in Germany. South Korea, the 2002 World Cup semifinalist, outclassed already-eliminated United Arab Emirates 2-0 in their Group Two affair and reached the tournament for the seventh successive time. Australia advanced via the Asian route for the first time after ditching Oceania two years ago. It was content to play out a goalless draw with Qatar in Doha to maintain its unbeaten run and share the lead with Japan on 14 points, trailed by Bahrain (7), Qatar (5) and Uzbekistan (4), still in with a chance of a play-off spot. The top two in each of the two groups qualify directly for South Africa, with the two third-place teams meeting to decide who goes through to a play-off to take on Oceania champions New Zealand. Shinji Okazaki scored a crucial but clumsy early goal for Japan against Uzbekistan in Tashkent to guarantee the Blue Samurai a place in South Africa with two games to spare. North Korea missed its chance of securing at least a play-off berth in Group Two when it was held to a goalless draw with Iran. The draw was a setback for Iran, whose chances of qualification now appear slim. In Dubai, South Korea was ahead after only five minutes against UAE when Park Chu-young chested down a cross in a crowded area and coolly prodded home from six meters. The visitors were always in command and were two up on 37 minutes after a comical goalkeeping blunder by Majed Nasser. Nasser tried to keep the ball from going for a corner but only pushed the ball into the path of a surprised Ki Sung-yueng who slotted casually into an empty net. South Korea leads the group with 14 points from six matches, followed by North Korea, who last reached the World Cup in 1966, on 11 points. Saudi Arabia is third on 10 points, with Iran fourth on seven. The next matches across Asia take place on Wednesday, when Bahrain gets a chance to cement a play-off place and Saudi Arabia pushes for an automatic Group Two berth.
