Japan, Iran win World Cup qualifiers
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-04 13:30

Japan and Iran won World Cup qualifiers on Friday and are on the verge of clinching berths in next year's tournament.

Japan got a goal from Mitsuo Ogasawara in the 34th minute to win 1-0 at Bahrain, and Rahman Rezaei headed in a goal in first-half injury time to lead Iran over visiting North Korea 1-0.

Japan's soccer player Shunsuke Nakamura (R) and Bahrain's Sayed Ebrahim run for the ball during the World Cup soccer qualifying match between Japan and Bahrain at Bahrain National Stadium in Manama, Bahrain June 3, 2005. Japan won 1-0.[Reuters]

Iran (3-0-1) and Japan (3-1) would gain the two automatic berths from Asia Group B if Iran wins at home against Bahrain (1-2-1) on Wednesday.

In Group A on Friday, World Cup semifinalist South Korea (2-1-1) needed an 88th-minute equalizer from Park Ju-young for a 1-1 tie at Uzbekistan (0-2-2), which had gone ahead when Maksim Shatskih's volley beat goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae in the 62nd minute.

Saudi Arabia (2-0-2) won 3-0 over visiting Kuwait (1-2-1) as Mohammed Al Shalhoob scored in the 19th and 49th minutes, and Saad Al Harithi added a goal in the 83rd. Kuwait finished two men short after Ali Al Namash and Waleed Jumah were ejected.

In Africa Group Three, Ivory Coast (5-1-1) remained on track to qualify for the first time, playing a 0-0 tie at Libya (3-2-2).

Two-time champion Argentina (8-1-4) could become the first team to join host Germany in the 32-team World Cup field. The Argentines need to beat host Ecuador (6-5-2) on Saturday and hope fifth-place Uruguay (4-5-4) fails to win at Venezuela (4-7-2).

Among the games on Saturday's schedule in Europe are Greece (4-1-2) at Turkey (3-1-3), Italy (4-1) at Norway (2-1-2) and Israel (2-0-4) at Ireland (2-0-3). The North and Central American and Caribbean region schedule has Costa Rica (1-1-1) at the United States (2-1), Mexico (2-0-1) at Guatemala (1-1-1), and Panama (0-1-2) at Trinidad and Tobago (0-2-1).

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