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DPA
Berlin
Syria's dream of reaching a first-ever World Cup finals hangs in the balance of the play-offs after they snatched a 2-2 draw in Iran on Tuesday while South Korea booked an automatic spot to Russia.
Visiting Syria were heading for an agonizing exit from the competition until Omar al Soma netted deep into injury-time against against the Group A winners.
Tamer Haj Mohamad had opened the scoring in the 13th minute to put them in an automatic spot to the finals but a double from Sardar Azmoun, in 45 and 64, left them in trouble. However, Soma's late heroics earned them third place in the group and a play-off berth despite not being able to play games in their war-torn home country.
Syria dropping points meant South Korea could continue their streak of reaching every finals since 1986 with a point in Uzbekistan and they held on for a goalless draw.
Uzbekistan, as like four years ago, failed to beat South Korea in a decisive game and were eliminated in fourth, on goal difference behind Syria. South Korea take second two points better off though well behind Iran.
Syria now meet the third-placed team from Asian Group B Australia in a play-off with the winner of that match then playing the team finishing fourth in the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) group for a spot in Russia 2018.
Results
Asian Zone World Cup Qualifying
Group A: (At Tehran) Iran 2 (Sardar Azmoun 45, 64) Syria 2 (Tamer Mohamad 13, Omar al Soma 90+3);
(In Doha) Qatar 1 (Akram Afif 47) China 2 (Xiao Zhi 74, Wu Lei 83); (At Tashkent) Uzbekistan 0 S Korea 0.
Group B: (At Melbourne) Australia 2 (Juric 69, Leckie 86) Thailand 1 (Pokklaw 82); (At Amman) Iraq 1 (Ayman Hussein 29) UAE 0; (In Jeddah) Saudi Arabia 1 (Fahad al Muwallad 63) Japan 0.
