Japan became the first Asian team to qualify for the World Cup finals after claiming a 1-0 win at Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Australia and South Korea qualified for South Africa 2010 hours later.

Japan secured its fourth straight World Cup place with a ninth minute goal as Shinji Okazaki headed in the ball off a rebound. The result put Uzbekistan on the brink of elimination.

Australia qualified for back-to-back World Cups for the first with a scoreless draw at Qatar.

Australia finished top of Group A on 14 points, beating Japan to the second place on superior goal difference.

South Korea secured its seventh straight qualification for the soccer gala next year, scoring a 2-0 win at last-place United Arab Emirates in Group B.

Park Chu-young and Ki Sung-yeung both scored in the first half. South Korea tops the group with 14 points.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea missed an opportunity to take a large stride toward South Africa when it was held to a scoreless draw at home against Iran. That result did little for either side, with Iran's qualification hopes now hanging by a thread.

With the top two teams from the five-team group to qualify directly for South Africa 2010 and the third-placed team to go into a further playoff, Iran stays in fourth with seven points from six games.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2009)