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Saudis miss out on World Cup

Image: Australia: Celebrate as they beat Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's dreams of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup are over after losing 4-2 to Australia.

Middle Eastern giants bow out after Australia defeat

Saudi Arabia's dreams of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup are over after losing 4-2 to Australia. The four-time finalists needed to win in Melbourne, but Frank Rijkaard's men could not secure the victory required. They had led at the break, but second-half goals from Alex Brosque, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton were enough for the Socceroos - who had already booked their place in the next round of qualifying. With Saudi Arabia beaten, that handed the chance to either Oman or Thailand to take advantage, as they played each other. And it was Paul Le Guen's Oman who booked their place in the next round as they won 2-0. South Korea avoided being dumped out as they claimed a 2-0 win over Kuwait with former Middlesbrough man Lee Dong-gook on target.

Bahrain blow

As it turned out, South Korea need not have worried about the result, as second-placed Lebanon lost 4-2 at the United Arab Emirates. Qatar grabbed a late equaliser against Iran, and the 2-2 draw means they progress at the expense of Bahrain who, despite their best efforts, are out. Bahrain went into their game with Indonesia needing to make up a nine-goal deficit, and they did their part with a 10-0 success, but they also needed Qatar to lose. In other games with no impact on fourth-round places, already-eliminated China had a 3-1 home win over a Jordan team that had booked its place in the next stage. Uzbekistan won 1-0 at Japan in a clash of the top teams in Group C, but both teams were already through. Tajikistan secured their only point of third round qualifying by drawing 1-1 at home against North Korea but both nations already knew they were out.

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