Japan first team to reach WCup, Iran wins

Japan became the first team to book its ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil thanks to a penalty from Keisuke Honda that secured a 1-1 draw against Australia on Tuesday.

Iran, meanwhile, got its stuttering World Cup campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over 2022 World Cup host Qatar, while South Korea missed a chance to go two points clear in Group A after needing a stoppage-time equalizer to draw 1-1 with Lebanon.

In Saitama, Japan, Tommy Oar had given Australia a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute with a lob over Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawasahima. But a handball by Matthew McKay set up a last-minute penalty for Honda, who beat Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Japan needed at least a point to clinch a spot in next year's World Cup in Brazil from Group B in Asian qualifying.

''I have achieved one of the goals I was hired for,'' Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said. ''But just qualifying is not enough. We have a very strong commitment to playing well so we will aim even higher in Brazil.''

Honda had missed Japan's last two matches - both defeats - but was his team's best player on Tuesday, even before the goal that saved Japan having to wait for the result of a later match between Oman and Iraq to see if it would qualify.

''Honda is a special player,'' Zaccheroni said. ''He has two important qualities: he's strong physically and he's strong mentally. That was his first full 90-minute game since November and he was spectacular.''

Honda's goal touched off spirited celebrations in downtown Tokyo as Japan secured its fifth straight World Cup appearance.

In a match overshadowed by political tensions, Iran beat Qatar 1-0 on Tuesday to revive its 2014 World Cup campaign. The loss also probably ends the campaign of Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup and is desperate to prove it has the game to compete on the world stage.

After a sluggish first half, Iran dominated possession in the second and it paid off in the 66th minute when striker Rez Ghoochannejhad Nournia pounced on a deflection from midfielder Mojtaba Jabari and slotted home the winner.

The victory left third-place Iran a point behind Uzbekistan and South Korea in Group A in the fight for one of the two automatic qualifying spots with two rounds left. Qatar was four points behind the leaders and three adrift of Iran but only has one match remaining.

''This was a very good game, very intense and very close,'' Iran's assistant coach Antonio Simoes said. ''Overall, I think in the end Iran deserved this win.''

The match was played at a time when both countries are flexing their political muscle on the regional stage, especially over the civil war in Syria. Iran backs the regime and Qatar the rebels.

Security was tight at the match, but there was little sign of the simmering dispute among the boisterous Qatari and Iranian fans.

In the other Group A match, South Korea needed an equalizer in the seventh minute of injury time to earn a 1-1 draw with 10-man Lebanon.

Hassan Maatouk put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute after some poor defending allowed the forward to collect the ball before firing low and hard past goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong.

South Korea soon went on the attack and the 2002 World Cup co-host was denied on several occasions in an inspired performance by goalkeeper Abbas Hassan.

In the second half, South Korea came close to equalizing with 18 minutes remaining as a header from defender Kwak Tae-hwi hit the post. Nine minutes later, the visitors hit the woodwork again as Lee Dong-gook followed up after Lebanon goalkeeper Hassan had denied Kim Shin-wook.

Finally, deep into injury time, Kim Chi-woo earned South Korea a vital point with a deflected free kick that wrong-footed Hassan.

In the other Group B match, Oman scored in first-half stoppage time to beat Iraq 1-0 and boost its chances of qualifying.

With time running out on an uneventful first half, Ismail al-Ajmi headed the winner past keeper Noor Sabri Abbas and striker Humam Tareq Faraj, who failed to clear it off the line.

The victory moves Oman into second in Group B with nine points, and one match to play. Australia and Jordan, both on seven points, have two matches left - as does Iraq, on five points.

Oman had several counterattacks in the second half that nearly doubled its lead. Abbas turned away a shot by Al-Ajmi from just inside the area in the 60th minute and Abdul Aziz twice got behind the defense before firing just wide in the 80th and 88th minutes.

''I am pleased with the 1-0 win over Iraq. I am happy with the way team performed today,'' Oman's coach Paul Le Guen said. ''With a strong team like Iraq, it is never easy and in the beginning we were nervous. But as the game progressed, we got better and better. I think we had more shots on goal and we deserved to win.''

Iraq rarely challenged Oman keeper Faiyz al-Rusheidi, as his defense largely contained striker Younus Mahmood. The Iraq captain had a good chance in the 87th when he collected a pass in the area but could only fire a weak shot wide of the target.

Iraq still has a mathematical chance of advancing, but is bottom of the group and its two remaining matches are against Asian heavyweights Japan and Australia.

The third-place teams in each group will meet in a playoff over two legs, with the winners taking on a South American side for a place in the finals.