Football
ESPN staff 8y

Jedinak and Cahill inspire Australia to AFC WCQ victory over Kyrgyzstan

Captain Mile Jedinak helped Australia get their AFC World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a first-half penalty in his comeback from injury in the 3-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan in Canberra.

Referee Kim Sang-woo pointed to the spot in the 39th minute after the jinking run of substitute Nathan Burns was met by a clumsy challenge from midfielder Islam Shamshiev.

Jedinak, playing his 60th international, placed his spot kick into the top right hand corner past goalkeeper Pavel Matiash in his first Australia appearance since June. It was his 10th international goal and fourth of 2015.

Tim Cahill then doubled the Socceroos' advantage in the 50th minute after latching onto an Aaron Mooy through ball with a right-footed shot.

And then 19 minutes later, Aaron Mooy provided the in-swinging corner from the left that Akram Umarov headed into his own net under pressure from Cahill. The former Everton star had several chances to add to his tally in the second half, only to be denied by goalkeeper Pavel Matiash.

The victory was the Asian champions' fourth in five matches and maintains their second position in Group B ahead of Tuesday's game against minnows Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Also in Group B, Manuchehr Dzhalilov scored four goals and Akhtam Nazarov added a penalty as Tajikistan earned their first win, 5-0 over Bangladesh.

In Group G, 2015 Asian Cup runners-up South Korea made it five wins out of five after crushing Myanmar 4-0 in Suwon, despite missing a first half penalty.

After Lee Jae-sung gave them an 18th minute lead, Jang Hyun-soo fluffed his lines from the spot six minutes later, before Koo Ja-cheol doubled the home nation's lead on the half hour.

Jang, making up for his earlier mistake, and Nam Tae-hee added second half goals.

Lebanon revived their flagging campaign with a 7-0 win over Laos, including four goals in a 15-minute span before half-time.

Japan avenged June's frustrating home draw with Singapore in Group E by thrashing the Southeast Asian side 3-0 in front of their own fans.

Two goals in six first half minutes -- from Mu Kanazaki and AC Milan star Keisuke Honda -- set the Blue Samurai on their way to a comfortable victory.

Southampton defender Maya Yoshida added a third in the 87th minute to put the four-time Asian champions top of Group E ahead of inactive Syria.

Afghanistan cruised to a 3-0 win over winless Cambodia, thanks to goals from Mustafa Zazai, Noroallah Amiri and Khaibar Amani.

Thailand moved closer to securing their place in the third round of qualifying after coming from behind to beat Chinese Taipei 4-2 in Bangkok in Group F.

Yen Yaki gave the Taiwanese a shock lead after three minute before former La Liga striker Teerasil Dangda equalised just before half-time and Pokkhao Anan put them 2-1 ahead in the 53rd minute.

Kai Chun Huang scored for Chinese Taipei to make 2-2 with 18 minutes remaining before late strikes from Adisak Kraisorn and Tana Chanabut eased the home nerves.

Group H leaders North Korea suffered their first defeat of the campaign, falling 3-1 at Uzbekistan, who closed within a point of their opponents with a game in hand.

Ri Hyok-chol had given the visitors the lead after only three minutes, but Uzbekistan equalised through Igor Sergeev in the 24th minute, then took over in the second half with goals from Aleksandr Geynrikh and Odil Akhmedov.

Philippines suffered a second consecutive defeat in Group H after falling 1-0 at home to Yemen. Ahmed Al Sarori scored the only goal in the 83rd minute in a spiteful game in Manila, marred by five yellow cards.

In Group C, China scored seven times in the first half on the way to a 12-0 victory over Bhutan in Changsha.

Shandong Luneng striker Yang Xu grabbed a 25-minute hat-trick in the first half before grabbing his fourth in the second half in the Group C game.

Also in Group C, a 14th-minute penalty from Paulinho was enough for Hong Kong to secure a 1-0 victory over Ricki Herbert's Maldives in Male.

Iran survived a scare to go top of Group D after a 3-1 victory over Turkmenistan in Tehran.

After Morteza Pouraliganji gave the home side the lead in the sixth minute, Makan Saparov equalised for Turkmenistan in the 62nd minute.

But late goals from Saeid Ezzatollahi and Omid Zarandini Ebrahimi secured the three points for Carlos Queiroz's side.

India finally earned their first points of the group stage as Robin Singh's 11-minute goal provided a 1-0 victory over Guam.

Sehenaj Singh was sent off shortly before half-time, but the hosts were still able to hang on for the victory.

United Arab Emirates defeated minnows Timor-Leste 8-0 to stay in second place in Group A behind idle Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad Ali Al Abri scored twice within 20 minutes to put the hosts on their way, and Ahmed Khalil added a hat trick.

Palestine, three days after holding Saudia Arabia to a goalless draw, cruised past Malaysia 6-0.

After Jonathan Cantillana's opener, a series of Malaysia errors allowed Ahmad Abu Nahyeh to score a hat trick, and Tamer Seyam and Jaka Ihbeisheh added goals late on.

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