Uzbeks qualify with 3-1 win, Syria edge through

* Uzbekistan qualify after 3-1 win

* Point enough for Syria

* Japan cruise past Hong Kong

By Patrick Johnston

SINGAPORE, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A win for Uzbekistan and a draw for Syria was enough for both sides to book their places at the 2011 Asian Cup finals on Wednesday.

The Uzbeks brushed aside Malaysia 3-1 in a rain-soaked Kuala Lumpur thanks to goals from Anvar Gafurov, Bakhodir Nasimov and captain Timur Kapadze which maintained their 100 percent qualifying record in Group C.

However the victory did not please coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.

“It was not a performance which was deserving of praise,” Kasimov told reporters.

“We are struggling not only with injuries but some of the players who we brought here also fell sick. So the overall performance was not very good.”

Uzbekistan lead the group with nine points from three matches, six clear of the United Arab Emirates, with the top two sides from each group qualifying for the finals in Qatar.

Syria wasted a number of good scoring chances against Vietnam but a point, courtesy of a 0-0 draw, was enough for them to qualify.

They top Group D with 10 points from four games, four clear of China (6), who play Lebanon (0) on Sunday.

ROBSON LOSS

Elsewhere, former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson saw his Thailand side slump to a first defeat under his management when they lost 1-0 to Singapore.

“We knew all about Singapore’s set-pieces and our marking was wrong for their goal,” Robson said.

“But they were very well organised and tough to break down and I couldn’t really ask much more from my players.”

The result meant Singapore leapfrogged Thailand into second in the Group E standings on six points from four games, one ahead of Robson’s side and one behind leaders Iran, who face Jordan on Sunday.

In Group A, Japan overcame jet-lag to extend their lead at the top after a comfortable 4-0 win away to bottom-placed Hong Kong.

Makoto Hasebe, Hisato Sato, Shunsuke Nakamura and Shinji Okazaki were all on the scoresheet for the “Blue Samurai” who played out a 0-0 draw with South Africa in a friendly in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.

“I’m pleased we were able to finish the year with a victory,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada told reporters.

“We should have scored more goals with the chances we had but overall we played well.”

Japan lead the standings on nine points from four games.

Bahrain are second, also on nine but having played a game fewer, after they shook off the disappointment of their World Cup playoff defeat by New Zealand by hammering Yemen 4-0.

In Group B, former winners Kuwait moved ahead of Australia to top the standings after they fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 in Indonesia. (Editing by Sonia Oxley)