SEOUL, June 8: While players from Japan, Australia and Syria were extending winning streaks, a defender from Kyrgyzstan was having some difficulty handling a new assignment in Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Kyrgyzstan was forced to play a second-round qualifier with a defender in goal on Monday because all three of the national team’s goalkeepers were self-isolating following a COVID-19 outbreak.
Aizar Akmatov instead played between the posts, allowing one goal in a 1-0 loss in Group F to Mongolia, which is ranked 192nd of FIFA’s 211 teams. Oyunbaataryn Mijiddorj scored in the 34th minute for Mongolia.
At the top of the group, Japan beat Tajikistan 4-1 for its seventh victory in seven matches in this stage.
Kyogo Furuhashi, Takumi Minamino, Kento Hashimoto and Hayao Kawabe all scored for Japan, while Ehsoni Panshanbe scored for Tajikistan.
Syria became the second team to advance to the third round with a 3-0 win over Guam in Sharjah, its seventh successive win in Group A.
Australia had a 5-1 win over Taiwan for its sixth straight victory in Group B, staying five points clear of Jordan. Goals from Harry Souttar, Jamie Maclaren, Trent Sainsbury and two from Mitchell Duke secured the points, with Gao Wei-Jie scoring for Taiwan after 62 minutes.
China managed a 2-0 win against the Philippines.
Second-half goals from FC Zenit striker Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi of Porto gave Iran a 3-0 win over Bahrain. Iran is in second place in Group C and just two points behind Iraq, which beat Cambodia 4-1.
Uzbekistan thrashed Singapore 5-0 to move two points behind Saudi Arabia in Group D. (AP)
