Football: Australia, Japan to battle in final round

Second-seed South Korea, have an easier path after being drawn with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon.

KUALA LUMPUR: Top-seed Australia will clash with Japan after the regional heavyweights were drawn in the same group for the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Second-seed South Korea, meanwhile, have an easier path after being drawn with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon. Besides each other, Australia and Japan will also have to face Iraq, Jordan and Oman. The top two from each group will qualify for the World Cup finals, while the third-placed team will compete in a play-off against a South American representative for a spot in Brazil. The final qualifying round kicks off on June 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2012.