Uzbekistan smash Qatar, as Japan go top

Uzbekistan will come to Australia for Wednesday nights 2010 World Cup™ with loads of confidence, after an emphatic 4-0 win over Qatar, while Japan jumped to the top of the Group A standings with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in qualifying action overnight.

Uzbekistan will come to Australia for Wednesday nights 2010 World Cup™ with loads of confidence, after an emphatic 4-0 win over Qatar, while Japan jumped to the top of the Group A standings with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in qualifying action overnight.

Australia had the bye and will play Uzbekistan on Wednesday (April 1) at Stadium Australia*.

Winless after the first four games, Uzbekistan took advantage of Qatar being reduced to 10-men in the 30th minute, after a scything challenge by Masoud Moradi on Server Djeparov.

Up until then, Uzbekistan, while dominating, had lacked the conviction in the final third, but the send-off saw that all change and just three minutes later they took the lead through Farhod Tadjiyev, who nodded home the first of his three goals for the match.

Three minutes into first half injury time, Uzbekistan virtually killed any hopes that Qatar may have had, with Tadjiyev beautifully angling his header past Mohamed Saqr from Jasur Hasanov-s cross.

Tadjiyev completed his hat-trick of headers eight minutes after half time, diving to meet Timur Kapadze clipped ball into the penalty area.

The scoring spree continued just on the hour mark, with substitute Anvarjon Soliev also heading home.

The win has now moved Uzbekistan up into third spot on the table, ahead of Bahrain and Qatar on goal difference and with everything to play for against Australia.

Meanwhile, a deflected Shunsuke Nakamura strike just two minutes into the second half, secured Japan a 1-0 win over Bahrain and moved the Japanese to the top of the standings, a point ahead of Australia and a step closer to qualification for the 2010 tournament.

Nakamura, Scott McDonald-s Celtic teammate, curled a free kick, which took a wicked deflection off Abdulla Marzooq, the ball looping over a stranded Sayed Mohamed Jaafar.

Japan continued to apply the pressure and had several more chances which they couldn-t convert.

Japan has a bye in Wednesday-s game while Bahrain host Qatar in Manama.

Tickets are still available for the match against Uzbekistan. To purchase your tickets, go to www.ticketek.com.au or phone on 132 849 or they can be purchased from all Ticketek outlets.

*ANZ Stadium referred to original name of Stadium Australia, due to rules of Asian Football Confederation.