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Korea Republic 2 (Keun-Ho Lee 60, Heung-Min Son 90)

Qatar 1 (Ibrahim 64)

Heung-Min Son scored in the sixth minute of injury time for Korea Republic to beat Qatar 2-1 in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

South Korea’s third win in five games kept it in contention to win Group A with three games to go. Keun-Ho Lee, the 2012 Asian player of the year, headed in the first goal in the 60th but Khalfan Ibrahim equalized for Qatar with a low shot from the edge of the area three minutes later.

In a first half that Korea controlled, there was little hint of the drama to follow. Chances were at a premium in a match in which frustrations spilled over into a late brawl on the pitch. Korea continued to push forward for the win and was rewarded with virtually the last kick of the game as Son, who has nine goals for Hamburg in the Bundesliga, tapped home from close range.

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Other results…

Uzbekistan 1 (Djeparov 63)

Lebanon 0

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Jordan 2 (Baniateyah 45, Ibrahim

Japan 1 (Kagawa 69)

Jordan shocked Japan to a 2-1 defeat on Tuesday, denying the Blue Samurai the chance to become the first team secure a berth in Brazil. Khalil Baniateyah headed home the opening goal from a corner just before halftime. After the break, Japan pressed for the equalizer that would have been enough for it to qualify for the World Cup after Australia drew 2-2 with Oman. But Jordan doubled its lead in the 60th when Ahmad Hayel Ibrahim grabbed a loose ball near midfield, darted past two defenders and chipped it past a sprawling Eiji Kawashima who seemed caught off guard by his zigzag run down the field.

Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa pulled one back for Japan eight minutes later, taking a nifty backheel pass from Hiroshi Kiyotake and firing it past the keeper. Japan then seemed to be on the verge of the draw in needed when Atsuto Uchida earned a penalty three minutes later after he collided with a defender in the area. Unfortunately for Japan, Yasuhito Endo had his spot kick saved by Jordan keeper Amer Sabah.

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Australia 2 (Cahill 52, Holman 85)

Oman 2 (Abdul Aziz 6, Jedinak 49OG)

Brett Holman helped Australia keep their Brazil hopes alive just… with a late long-range goal that ensured a 2-2 draw and denied a fighting Oman an upset victory in Sydney on Tuesday. The Omanis, ranked 66 places below the Australians, looked set for a shock win with a 2-0 lead and 40 minutes left only for Tim Cahill and Holman to help salvage a point with goals to keep Australia second in Asia Group B behind Japan.

Holman, who has been little used by English Premier League strugglers Aston Villa this season, saved Australia from a humiliating home defeat when he unleashed a fierce long-range volley with five minutes left of normal time. But the Australians will rue missing out on two crucial points as they bid for their third straight World Cup finals appearance in Brazil next year.

The Socceroos have just one win and six points from five qualifying games, and must at least maintain their number two spot in group B with three games in hand. Oman meanwhile move ahead of Iraq and Jordan into third place with two games to go. The Omanis, ranked 105th, rocked Australia with a goal from virtually their first attack in the sixth minute.

Amad Al-Hosni played in Abdulaziz Al-Miqbali, who got the better of defender Michael Thwaite and beat goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from a tight angle with his left-foot drive. It was Al-Miqbali’s fourth goal in his 14th international and gave Oman a psychological boost against the flat Australians, missing suspended skipper Lucas Neill.

For much of the opening 45 minutes goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, who plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League, had little to do except defusing a shot from Holman. Defender Saad Al-Mukhaini picked up the first yellow card of the match for his challenge on Fortuna Dusseldorf’s Robbie Kruse in the 35th minute. Giant defender Robert Cornthwaite also went into the referee’s book with a rugged challenge on the goalscorer Al-Miqbali minutes after the resumption.

But the night turned worse for the Australians when Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak conceded an own goal in the 49th minute from an innocuous cross from Raed Ibrahim. Two goals down, Australia hit back through talisman Cahill with his 27th international goal three minutes later. Cahill outjumped Al-Mukhaini to head home Luke Wilkshire’s corner to recharge the Australians from their lethargy. It was Cahill again who forced Al-Habsi into a flying save to beat away his bullet header off another corner with 16 minutes left.

Marco Bresciano only lasted 20 minutes as a substitute before he injured his knee in a jarring tackle and was replaced by FC Utrecht wide man Tommy Oar in the 76th minute. Cahill had another headed chance off a corner, but it bounced over the bar to Oman’s relief. Holman threw the desperate Australians a lifeline when he unleashed a fierce drive outside the area to beat Al-Habsi with five minutes of normal time left. Cahill also pinched it for Australia deep in injury time with a header that Al-Habsi got down well to beat away.

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