China 3 - Jordan 1; Iraq 7 - Singapore 1

China bid farewell to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in style before the home fans in Guangzhou. Chinese star Hao Junmin wanted to give the best possible account of himself in the final match, and that he did. Hao scored on a low, driven shot to the far post for a 1-0 lead just before the half that China took into the dressing room.

Hao secured a brace with a lunging volley off a long pass that allowed him to defeat an offsides trap and get a good fifteen meters beyond the last defender. Hao's second came just beyond the midway point of the second half. With five minutes to play, Jordan had a short free kick from the left side of goal that was flicked on frame and saved, but they pounced on the rebound for 2-1. Three minutes later, Yu Dabao ended the drama with an answer to Jordan's late push, giving China a 3-1 victory with which to console themselves as they watch the final round of qualifying from their couches.

Iraq faced off with Singapore in Doha, United Arab Emirates in their eighth match of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying to date. The small crowd on hand was treated to a show of Iraqi football. It took only four minutes for the first goal to fall for Iraq. Iraq had a 3-0 lead after a converted penalty kick midway through the period. Singapore pulled one back six minutes after that, but the first half scoring ended on another Iraq penalty kick conversion, giving Iraq a 4-1 lead at the break.

Two minutes after the restart, it was 5-1 after yet another Iraqi goal. Captain Younis Mahmoud scored his second just beyond the hour mark and finished his hat trick with a lovely sky-high chip in stoppage time to end the match 7-1 and give Iraq the Group A crown.

Goals

China

Hao Junmin 43, 69

Yu Dabao 88

Jordan

Abdallah Salim 85

Iraq

Karrar Jasim 4

Younis Mahmoud 11, 61, 90+3

Hawar Mulla Mohammed 22 PK

Nashat Akram 36 PK

Mustafa Kareem 47

Singapore

Mohammad Abdul 28

Match Reports:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2012-03/01/content_14729396.htm

http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/64316/iraq-vs-singapore/report

http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120302-0000082/We-wont-shy-away-from-difficult-decisions--FAS

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjxYerGeuTA (China v. Jordan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er6Wse-oG4s&feature=related (Iraq v. Singapore)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_bmYlhiQYo (China v. Jordan)

Iraq 3 - Jordan 1; China 4 - Singapore 0

China paid a visit to Singapore knowing that only a huge margin of victory in Singapore could keep their hopes of advancing alive. China needed to win their final two qualifiers and overcome their deficit in goal differential to Iraq to advance. They also needed Iraq to lose their final two matches. As has been the case throughout round three, Singapore were thoroughly dominated in all aspects of the match, though China only broke the deadlock late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

In the second period, China's superiority continued to shine through. An early second-half scare from Singapore hit the crossbar, but after that China began to coast through the match. Goal number two came ten minutes into the half and was followed by a brace from Zheng Zheng to give China a 4-0 lead, a margin of victory large enough to give China a simple formula for advancing to the next phase of qualifying. If China win their final match and Iraq lose both of their last two, China will advance.

Jordan came home to Amman to take on Iraq. A home victory would secure the Group A crown for Jordan; a draw or better would seal progression for Iraq and end China's hopes of survival. The crowd exploded upon Jordan scoring the opener after Hasan Mahmoud broke the offside trap and calmly finished a one-on-one with the goalkeeper with a chipped shot. Jordanian fans continued to rock the stadium for the remainder of the half as the team lead 1-0 after forty-five minutes of play.

Iraq had to change the tide in the second half, and that they did. After a cross was headed down at the far post, the ball bounced to star Iraq midfielder Nashat Akram (pictured, green) who volleyed the ball into the side netting for an equalizer, stunning the crowd ten minutes into the half. A dozen minutes later, a close range free kick was headed down in the box from where it was volleyed home for a 2-1 Iraq lead. Akram added the third with less than ten minutes on the clock after shooting into an open net. Iraq win the match 3-1 and earn their ticket into the AFC Fourth Round.

Jordan 12 pts - IN
Iraq 12 pts - IN
China OUT
Singapore OUT

Goals

China

Yu Hai 42

Li Weifeng 55

Zheng Zheng 73, 82

Iraq

Nashat Akram 55, 81

Qusai Munir 67

Jordan

Hasan Mahmoud 17

Match Reports:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1542934/index.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_734178.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/wires/11/15/2080.ap.soc.jordan.iraq.1st.ld.writethru.0292/index.html

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGGQGGXYSrg&feature=related (China v. Singapore)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gyUtbFpJXU (Iraq v. Jordan)

Iraq 1 - China 0; Jordan 2 - Singapore 0

Iraq faced off against China in Doha with second place in Group A on the line. China, the more desperate team, were supremely dangerous in the first half. A glancing header was not enough to direct a ball onto the open net midway through the period. Younis Mahmoud (pictured, white) launched two solo attacks with around ten minutes left in the period, but the first resulted in a great save and the second in an awful miss off a deflection rebound by a teammate. The game was tied 0-0 at the break.

At the hour mark, Mahmoud was pull down on a breakaway at midfield, leading to a yellow card for his defender. A free kick with ten minutes to go was struck toward the far post upper nintey by Hao Junmin, but Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid saved his team from doom. Late in the second half, the ever-present Mahmoud was on a solo breakaway after latching onto a through ball when Chinese defender Zhang Linpeng had to take him down from behind to save an open chance. Linpeng was sent off for the tackle with five minutes left in regulation. Nashat Akram hit a shot off the post soon after the foul, but China continued to survive without having conceded. Mahmoud, released on another long run down the right side of China's box, unleashed a rocket into the top of the next in stoppage time to secure full points for Iraq with a 1-0 win.

For Jordan, the task was straightforward: defeat Singapore at home in Amman and go to the next round of qualifying. Jordan did not dominate quite as much as they had in Singapore in October, but the resulting effort was good enough. After a quarter hour, Jordan scored the goal that made the score at the half 1-0.

In the second period, the Jordan defense continued to hold strong except for one slip-up in the 57th minute. In Singapore's only attack of the match, a cross was headed in superbly by the first of three open men in the box, but the offside flag went up for an offside infraction by the second player. Jordan learned their lesson that keeping a team close on the scoreboard is a dangerous proposition, and eight minutes later they banged home the second goal to seal the victory and progression to the next stage. With the 2-0 loss, Singapore are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Jordan 12 pts -IN

Iraq 9 pts +2

China 3 pts -2

Singapore OUT

Goals

Iraq

Younis Mahmoud 90+2

Jordan

Ahmad Ibrahim 15

Amer Deeb 65

Match Reports:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sunday/2011-11/13/content_14084758.htm

http://redsports.sg/2011/11/12/football-world-cup-qualifiers-singapore-jordan/

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHxVaDvSx0&feature=related (Iraq v. China)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y25k8Jtn7Cw (Jordan v. Singapore)

Iraq 1 - China 0; Jordan 3 - Singapore 0

Group leaders Jordan visited Singapore looking to maintain their lead atop Group A. Jordan took control from the start, scoring just ten minutes into the match. Great play from from Singapore goalkeeper Mohamad Izwan saved the match from getting out of hand. A few Jordanian chances were pushed aside, and the visitors enjoyed a mere 1-0 advantage at the break.

Jordan capitalized by scoring off a flicked-on header from a powerful free kick not quite ten minutes into the half. Nine minutes later, Ahmad Ibrahim made a mad dash through three Singapore defenders before rolling a ball into the bottom left corner of goal from 18 yards out. Jordan would hold onto to win by a 3-0 scoreline. Jordan were dominant throughout the match and look ready to assume a place among the Asian powers if their high level of play can translate into success during Round Four, a place in which they have almost assured themselves.

China welcomed Iraq into their home in Shenzhen. China applied all the early pressure, but the Iraqi defense held tough. Iraq began playing the long ball, which worked to perfection in the final minute of the first half as captain Younis Mahmoud played a great one-two-one with Mustafa Kareem, leading to a Mahmoud finish for a 1-0 lead at the half.

China were of course on the attack from the get-go in the second period, and Iraq's strategy to put up a defensive shell took a huge hit when they lost defender Basem Abbas to a second yellow card around midway through the second half. The referee should have used better discretion, for he threw Abbas out of the match merely for throwing the ball away from the spot of the Chinese corner kick a second after having been whistled for the foul. In spite of this, Iraq were able to hold strong in defense for a 1-0 road victory.

Jordan 9 pts +6

Iraq 6 pts +1

China 3 pts -1

Singapore 0 pts -6

Goals

Jordan

Abd Allah Deeb 11

Anas Bani Yaseen 54

Ahmad Ibrahim 63

Iraq

Younis Mahmoud 45

Match Reports:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1525368/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1525367/index.html

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-msaeDALoJE&feature=relmfu (Jordan v. Singapore)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Ccq0-9eVE&feature=related (Iraq v. China)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_07T_y_9gcA (Iraq v. China)

Jordan 2 - China 1; Iraq 2 - Singapore 0

Singapore headed home to play Iraq in Singapore. However, it was Iraq who were more keen to right their wrong of losing their group opener. Iraq pounded through Singapore's defense and applied physical challenges throughout the match, but nothing came of their determination in the first period, which ended scoreless.

In the second period, Iraq took a well-deserved lead within five minutes of the restart. Singapore, in the search for an equalizer, felt they had a legitimate appeal for a penalty, but were turned down as they had been four days prior in China. Iraq continued to apply offensive pressure and fouling tactics, leading to three separate dust-ups with Singapore, including one in stoppage time just five minutes after star striker Younis Mahmoud had clinched the match with a chip goal. Iraq wins 2-0 to put Singapore's back firmly against the proverbial wall.

Jordan looked to grab the group lead with a positive result at home to China in Amman. However, it was China that began the match on the right foot. China earned 70% of the possession in the first half, but were fruitless in front of the net, allowing Jordan to escape to the break scoreless.

Jordan kindly repaid the kindness of their visitors by scoring twice within the first ten minutes of the restart. China did not fold, and responded with a goal kicked through a defensive wall just two minutes after Jordan had found their second. With more than a half hour remaining, Jordan were not in any mood to declare the match won. However, a fine final third of the match allowed Jordan to win the match 2-1 and take control of a hotly contested Group A.

Jordan 6 pts +3

China 3 pts 0

Iraq 3 pts 0

Singapore 0 pts -3

Goals:

Iraq

Alaa Abdul Zahra 49

Younis Mahmoud 86

Jordan

Baha Suleiman 49

Amer Deeb 54

China

Hao Junmin 56

Match Reports:

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20110906-298073.html

http://www.espnstar.com/football/world-cup/news/detail/item668724/Singapore-downcast-after-Iraq-defeat/

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1505968/index.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-jordan-china

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kdWuFQCPqg (Iraq v. Singapore)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxL1CBo6XSs (Jordan v. China)

Jordan 2 - Iraq 0; China 2 - Singapore 1

China opened up Group A play the same way it opened up its second round series against Laos: down a goal at home at halftime. Though the Chinese dominated the scoring chances in Kunming, visiting Singapore's ageless wonder Aleksandar Duric popped up on a two-man counterattack to overcome the Chinese defense and grab a one-goal lead.

China saved its graces after being granted a couple of highly questionable decisions by the referee. Qu Bo had a penalty saved by Singapore's goalkeeper Lionel Lewis in the 59th minute as Singapore preserved their 1-0 lead. However, ten minutes later China were awarded a penalty that never was. The shot was slotted home this time, equalizing the score at one goal apiece. China then took its first lead four minutes later on a rebound tap-in. However, Duric appeared to be taken down in the Chinese box late in the half but appeals for a Singapore penalty kick were waved away. Singapore's coach Radojko Abramovic was so incensed that he was sent off the pitch. China won 2-1 and take the full compliment of three points.

Jordan, underdogs in their road encounter with Iraq in spite of their higher seeding, were looking to spring the upset in this matchup of Arab teams. Jordan continued their excellent form from their series against Nepal with a goal just before the half, leading to a bench-to-touchline celebration for the Jordanians.

Barely two minutes out from the break, Jordan struck again, further silencing the crowd at Arbil and placing Jordan in an excellent position to see out the match and claim top spot in the group. They were able to do just that, sending the Iraqi fans home disappointed by their team's 2-0 defeat. Jordan look to take command of the group at home to China on Tuesday while an incensed Singapore side look to vent their frustrations at home to Iraq that same day.

Goals:

China

Zheng Zhi 69 PK

Yu Hai 73

Singapore

Aleksandar Duric 33

Jordan

Hasan Mahmoud 43

Abd Allah Deeb 47

Match Reports:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1503623/index.html

http://www.espnstar.com/football/world-cup/news/detail/item667240/Singapore-enraged-by-China-defeat/

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-03/top-stories/30110089_1_world-cup-qualifier-kurdish-controlled-territory-zico

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO1-O4jSo-Y (China v. Singapore)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjFezfs2k8 (Jordan v. Iraq)

Full Match Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYmVph2SF8 (first half of China v. Singapore)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF86GMofaZI (second half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_wneSi5uzM *(Jordan v. Iraq)