MELBOURNE, Australia — Son Heung-min scored his 50th international goal as South Korea defeated Kuwait 3-1 to take a big step toward an 11th successive World Cup appearance.
The Tottenham forward converted a penalty to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute and help South Korea earn a fourth successive win in Group B of Asia´s 2026 World Cup qualifiers to move five points clear at the top with five games to go.
Only the top two of six in each group will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup. The third- and fourth-place finishers will advance to the next stage.
Oh Se-hun headed in South Korea’s opener in the 10th minute and Son, who had just returned from a hamstring injury, extended the advantage after being fouled in the area. Mohammed Daham pulled a goal back with a spectacular strike with 30 minutes remaining but Bae Jun-ho sealed the win for the visitors.
“(Son is) such an important part of our team,” South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said according to AP. “He just came back after being hobbled by injury.”
Jordan and Iraq stayed in second and third place on eight points after drawing 0-0 in Basra while Oman is now two points behind after defeating the Palestinian team 1-0.
In Group A, Iran defeated North Korea 3-2 in Laos to move onto 13 points, three clear of Uzbekistan which lost 3-2 at Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup host stayed in fourth with seven points, level with the United Arab Emirates which defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-0.
In Group C, Australia and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 in Melbourne after the visitors had a late goal disallowed when Sultan Al-Ghannam´s low shot from just inside the area was ruled out for offside, denying a win win for Herve Renard, the second-time Saudi coach who replaced Roberto Mancini last month.
“I have to see it once again to be sure that they made the best decision,” Renard said. “So I will not comment about this.”
Australia was initially awarded a penalty after 12 minutes when Mitch Duke went down under a challenge from Saudi goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar but VAR ruled the foul was outside the area.
Saudi Arabia, like Australia aiming for a seventh World Cup appearance, went closest with a shot from Nasser Al-Dawsari forcing a save from Joe Gauci at the near post.
Having replaced Roberto Mancini after the Saudis managed one point from their two home matches in the previous qualifying window; Renard started his second stint in charge on a positive note in Melbourne.
The Frenchman was also in charge during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Saudis held Australia 0-0 in Sydney three years ago and then beat them 1-0 at home, sending the Socceroos down the perilous playoffs route to qualify.
“It was for us a difficult game but congratulations to everybody (on the team),” said Renard according to Reuters. “We managed to get one point. We are in the middle of this group. Everything is still open.”
Saudi Arabia head to Jakarta next week to play Indonesia in their next qualifier, with Australia travelling to Bahrain.
The game of high stakes was a scrappy, frenetic affair laden with missed chances.
The opening half finished with a flurry of shots but Australia failed to capitalise on defensive errors.
Australia playmaker Ajdin Hrustic’s low shot was denied by goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar before captain Jackson Irvine blazed over from long-range six minutes into injury time.
In between, home keeper Joe Gauci foiled Firas Al-Buraikan with a heroic dive at the forward’s feet as he bore down on goal after breaching Australia’s offside trap.
Australia coach Tony Popovic was happier with the second half despite more disappointment but ultimately relief.
Substitute forward Brandon Borrello had just the keeper to beat late on but laid off a poor cross to Riley McGree.
Australian hearts were in mouths when a Saudi free kick was headed out of the box, allowing Al-Ghannam to fire inside the left corner but to the home side’s relief VAR confirmed a stray Saudi foot was offside by inches in the goalmouth.
“We have to give confidence to the referee,” Renard told reporters. “I have to see it once again to be sure that they made the best decision. So I will not comment about this.”
Deep into stoppage time, McGree all but snatched the win for Australia when he sent a bicycle kick just wide.
“In the second half I thought we really improved and took control of the game,” Popovic told reporters.
