In Tashkent, Shinji Okazaki scored the only goal of the game to send Japan top of Asian qualifying Group A with 14 points and two games to go.

Japan are followed by Australia in second place with 13 points and one game in hand.

In Group B, Saudi Arabia neared guaranteeing a qualification berth after North Korea played out a goalless draw against Iran in Pyongyang.

The result means that North Korea stayed second in the table with eleven points from seven games, just one point ahead of Saudi Arabia, who played two games less.

South Korea are currently top of the group with eleven points with a better goal difference over their northern neighbours.

The first two teams in each group qualify directly to the World Cup, while the best third team undergoe a play-off with Oceania's champions.