TOKYO (AP) — North Korea reportedly canceled internet hosting Japan in a World Cup qualifier simply hours after shedding to Japan in Tokyo on Thursday.
Japan scored after simply 90 seconds and held out North Korea to win 1-0 and keep its good begin within the second spherical of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Quickly after, Japan Soccer Affiliation chief Kozo Tashima instructed Kyodo Information that North Korea canceled the scheduled qualifier in opposition to Japan on Tuesday in Pyongyang, giving the information in a letter to the Asian Soccer Confederation.
North Korea was involved by “a malignant infectious illness” in Japan, an obvious reference to rising instances of streptococcus infections, Kyodo stated.
Ao Tanaka’s strike on the Nationwide Stadium gave host Japan three wins from three Group B video games.
The midfielder fired dwelling from inside a crowded penalty space after a Ritsu Doan pullback.
North Korea, cheered on by a small pocket of red-shirted followers, lacked attacking energy to get again within the sport. North Korea has solely three factors from the primary three group video games.
“We needed to provide our followers end result and we’re sorry we couldn’t nevertheless it was sport,” North Korea coach Sin Yong Nam stated.
South Korea was held by Thailand to 1-1 in Seoul in its first sport since Jurgen Klinsmann was fired because the coach in February.
Son Heung-min put South Korea forward after 42 minutes with a shot from shut vary. Simply after an hour, Suphanat Mueanta leveled.
“There’s no getting round the truth that it was a disappointing end result however there have been positives to take from the sport,” Son stated.
Regardless of the draw, South Korea remained on prime of Group C forward of Tuesday’s sport in Bangkok, three factors above Thailand and China, which drew 2-2 with Singapore.
Australia has received all three of its Group I video games after defeating Lebanon 2-0 in Sydney.
Keanu Baccus opened the scoring after simply 5 minutes and Kye Rowles added the second shortly after the restart.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all maintained their good information with respective wins over the Philippines, Tajikistan and Yemen.
In Jordan’s first motion since shedding the Asian Cup closing to Qatar in February, it beat Pakistan 3-0. Qatar defeated Kuwait by the identical scoreline.
The highest two groups from every of the 9 teams will advance to the ultimate spherical. Asia’s automated allocation on the World Cup has elevated from 4 to eight.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
