Saudi Arabia booked a berth in the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers after beating Singapore 2-0 at National Stadium in Singapore on Saturday. Abdu Atif put Saudi Arabia ahead at the start of the second half and substitute Ahmed Al-Fraidi sealed the win a 76th minute goal. The Saudis, who have reached the finals four times, made sure of the progress after collecting 12 points from five matches in Group D. Uzbekistan had already secured its passage to the next round after beating Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. The match was the first for Saudi Arabia under its new coach Nasser Al-Jawhar, who replaced Brazilian Dos Anjos last week. Al-Jawhar's task was not easy as he started the Singapore match without key players, including 2007 AFC Player of the Year Yasser Al-Qahtani and defenders Zaid Al-Muollad and Naif Al-Qadi. Singapore was first to launch an attack in the 4th minute but striker Alexandar Duric shot wide. The Saudis kept an upper hand in the game after that but failed to reach the host's goal. Abdu Atif succeeded in breaking the deadlock in the 37th minute when he sent Saad Al-Harithi's cross to the far right of Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny. Malek Al-Hawsawi almost doubled the lead six minutes later when he broke the offside trap but was brilliantly denied by Hassan Sunny. The Saudis made a number of desperate attempts at the Singapore goal from outside the box but in vain. Al-Jawhar brought in young midfielder Ahmed Al-Fraidi in the place of Mohammed Al-Shalhoub in the 73rd minute and Al-Fraidi doubled the lead three minutes later. Saudi Arabia in its last third round match hosts Uzbekistan on June 22. Elsewhere Australia, Japan and both Koreas also marched into the final round of Asia's 2010 World Cup qualifiers after clinching decisive wins on Saturday. They were joined in the last 10 by Group 2 leader Bahrain after it drew with Oman, and early qualifier Uzbekistan, with three more places to be decided in the final round of matches next weekend. One of those spots will go to either Qatar or Asian champions Iraq, who face each other in a tense final Group 1 match in Dubai on June 22. A goal in each half from Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton and a late strike from Harry Kewell sank Qatar 3-1 and ensured a place for Asia newcomer Australia's in the competition's next phase. Iraq kept its World Cup hopes alive but dashed those of China when it beat the host 2-1 in a must-win match in Tianjin. The defeat was the second in a row for goal-shy China, which is now eliminated after winning just one point and scoring only two goals. South Korea reached the next stage after rallying to beat Turkmenistan 3-1. Rival North Korea also went through courtesy of goals either side of halftime by Serbian-born Hong Yong-jo to see off Jordan 2-0. Bahrain's surprise 1-1 draw with Oman also ensured Japan's passage into round four. Uzbekistan trounced winless Lebanon 3-0 in Tashkent to extend its 100 percent record in qualifying. Japan punished Thailand 3-0. – With input from Agencies __
