TOKYO: Japan scored after just 90 seconds and held out North Korea to win 1-0 on Thursday and maintain their perfect start in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Ao Tanaka’s strike at the National Stadium gave the host three wins from three Group B games.
The midfielder fired home from inside a crowded penalty area after a Ritsu Doan pullback.
North Korea, cheered on by a small pocket of red-shirted fans, lacked attacking power to get back in the game. With just three points from the first three group games, North Korea need a result on Tuesday against the same opponent in Pyongyang.
“We wanted to give our fans a good result and we are sorry we could not but it was a good game,” North Korea coach Sin Yong Nam said.
South Korea were held by Thailand to 1-1 in Seoul in their first game since Jurgen Klinsmann was fired as the coach in February.
Son Heung-min put South Korea ahead after 42 minutes with a shot from close range. Just after an hour, Suphanat Mueanta leveled.
Despite dropping two points, South Korea remained on top of Group C.
In Jordan’s first action since losing the Asian Cup final to Qatar in February, they beat Pakistan 3-0.
The top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance to the final round. Asia’s automatic allocation at the World Cup has increased from four to eight.
Japan quick strike beat North Korea; South Korea held by Thailand in Asia qualifying
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Japan quick strike beat North Korea; South Korea held by Thailand in Asia qualifying
- Ao Tanaka’s strike at the National Stadium gave the host three wins from three Group B games
- The midfielder fired home from inside a crowded penalty area after a Ritsu Doan pullback
Lens have transformed from surprise package to genuine title threat to PSG in Ligue 1
- Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger
- PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday
PARIS: With nine rounds remaining in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain still have not managed to shake off Lens in the title race.
Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger and, with PSG not playing this weekend, coach Pierre Sage’s side can move two points ahead at the top with a win at mid-table Lorient on Saturday.
PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG better preparation for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea next week.
It seems PSG hardly need it, leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
The decision hardly pleased Nantes fans, who are facing yet another relegation scrap with a third coach this season. Ahmed Kantari was sacked this week and replaced by Vahid Halilhodzic.
Kantari was in charge for just three months. He was hired in mid-December after Nantes fired Luís Castro, who lasted 15 games.
Key matchups
After scraping a narrow win at Toulouse last weekend, Marseille moved back into third place on goal difference from Lyon.
But Marseille’s fans are still angry at facing another trophyless season and coach Habib Beye’s players need a strong performance at home against Auxerre on Friday to appease them.
Monaco are at home to Brest on Saturday and the players are on a roll under attack-minded Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli. Monaco have won their past four league games, including impressive away wins against PSG and Lens.
Lyon look to snap a four-game winless streak when they travel to lowly Le Havre and fifth-placed Rennes seek a fifth straight win when they host Lille, with both of those games on Sunday.
Players to watch
Monaco’s turnaround in fortunes have coincided with American forward Folarin Balogun finding form. He looked at his best last Friday against PSG, where his movement and hold-up play stood out, and he has 13 goals overall this season.
Lens winger Florian Thauvin is in fine form after scoring in Ligue 1 and the French Cup last week.
Rémi Himbert has caught the eye on the left side of Lyon’s attack and the 18-year-old forward’s form has earned him a first professional contract until 2028.
Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul looks to add to his 13 league goals this season.
Out of action
Lyon’s goalscoring midfielder Pavel Šulc remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Marseille central defender Nayef Aguerd requires an operation to treat pubalgia — a chronic groin injury problem — which has been troubling the Morocco international for months.
Nice midfielder Everton is expected to miss the rest of the season. The 18-year-old broke into the team this year but suffered a serious ankle injury in training this week.
Off the field
PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was grounded in Qatar this week amid the intensifying Iran war.
Flights in and out of the Middle East have been impacted by the Iran war, started by the US and Israel on Feb. 28.
PSG have been bankrolled by Qatari backer QSI since the club’s takeover 15 years ago.
