China crash out of World Cup after defeat

(CNN) -- North Korea, South Korea and Saudi Arabia all powered into the final phase of Asian World Cup qualifying on Saturday, but China have crashed out of contention after losing 2-1 at home to Iraq.

Hong Yong-Jo scored twice as North Korea beat Jordan 2-0 in Pyongyang to seal not just their place among the final 10 teams still standing on the road to South Africa in 2010, but also neighbors South Korea's.

That draw takes place later this month to decide the two groups of five who will vie for the four automatic berths Asia has been allocated in the finals. The fifth-placed side play off against a team from Oceania.

Trailing the two Koreas by four points at the start of the game, Jordan needed a win to keep alive their hopes, but a goal in each half from Serbian-based striker Hong sealed their fate.

Saudi Arabia, in their first match under new coach Nasser Al Johar, who replaced the sacked Helio dos Anjos earlier this week, took the points they needed against Singapore to ensure they remain on track.

It was one-way traffic, with goals from Abdoh Autef in the first half and substitute Ahmed Al Fraidi in the second, leaving them on 12 points in Group Four alongside Uzbekistan, who earned their place in the deciding round last week.

Singapore trail on three points, with their dreams of appearing at a first-ever World Cup finals shattered.

Meanwhile, Bahrain and Japan also booked their places in the final round later on Saturday following the Gulf side's 1-1 draw with regional rivals Oman.

Fouzi Aaish scored an opportunistic goal in the 41st minute to put Bahrain ahead while Oman equalised through Ismail Al Ajmi in the 72nd minute.

Bahrain remain at the top of Group Two with 11 points, one ahead of Japan, who also qualified following their 3-0 victory over Thailand earlier in the day.

Oman, who had to beat Bahrain to keep their chances alive, have five points and Thailand on one are also out of the running.

Playing in front of masses of drum-beating Japanese supporters in Bangkok, visiting Japan struck first in the 22nd minute when Marcus Tanaka nodded home a corner-kick from Yasuhito Endo.

Japan doubled their lead in the 38th minute when captain Yuji Nakazawa headed in at the far post and Kengo Nakamura wrapped it up two minutes from time.

"Our team controlled the game," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada. "We were trying to do whatever it takes to win. Under these hot and humid conditions, the team played well."

But it was curtains for underachieving China, who needed to beat Iraq in Tianjing, and then overcome Australia a week later in Sydney, to have any hope of advancing.

Instead, they will finish bottom of Group One with coach Vladimir Petrovic's job hanging by a thread.

Australia made sure of their place with a 3-1 win over Qatar in a sweltering Doha to top Group One leaving the Gulf side and Iraq, who clash in Dubai next week, to battle for the second qualifying spot.

Iraq's win put them alongside Qatar on seven points, setting up an intriguing final round of games on June 22 when Iraq play Qatar clash in Dubai in a winner-takes-all encounter.

Nashat Akram scored the winner for Iraq on Saturday in the 65th minute.

China took the lead when Zhou Haibing slammed a free-kick through a crowd of defenders in the 32nd minute. Emad Mohammed equalized seven minutes later before Akram sealed China's fate.