▲ In this Reuters photo, Mathew Leckie of Australia celebrates his goal against Denmark during the countries' Group D match at the FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, south of Doha, on Nov. 30, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ In this Reuters photo, Australian supporters celebrate their team's 1-0 victory over Denmark in the countries' Group D match at the FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, south of Doha, on Nov. 30, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ In this Reuters photo, Milos Degenek of Australia (R) and Jesper Lindstrom of Denmark battle for the ball during the countries' Group D match at the FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, south of Doha, on Nov. 30, 2022. (Yonhap)

(World Cup) Asian teams-tournament

(World Cup) Australia through to last 16; Saudi Arabia, Japan, S. Korea up next from Asia

By Yoo Jee-ho

AL WAKRAH, Qatar, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- Australia grabbed their first World Cup knockout ticket in 16 years on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Denmark, becoming the first team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to advance with three more teams having a chance to join them.

Mathew Leckie scored the match's lone goal against the run of play at the hour mark, thanks to some impressive individual effort at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, south of Doha.

After taking a pass from Riley McGree on a counterattack opportunity, Leckie drove into the box, faked a shot to turn defender Joakim Maehle around, and rolled a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Australia came into this match in second place in the group with three points, three back of France and two ahead of Denmark and Tunisia. And that's where they finished, with France, also with six points, winning the group thanks to the tiebreaker in goal difference, +3 to -1.

It was a match Australia had no business winning. Denmark controlled 60 percent of the possession and recorded 13 shot attempts to Australia's four.

There were a record six countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) playing at this year's World Cup: host country Qatar and five qualifiers in South Korea, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Qatar were the first team to be eliminated after dropping their first two matches and also lost their final group match on Tuesday. Iran bowed out Tuesday after losing to the United States 1-0.

Saudi Arabia will play their final Group C match versus Mexico later Wednesday with a chance to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1994.

Saudi Arabia are in third place with three points, one behind Poland. Argentina, whom Saudi Arabia beat earlier, also have three points but hold the tiebreaker in goal difference, at +1 to -1. Mexico are in last place with one point but they are still alive in the group.

Saudi Arabia will advance with a victory or a combination of their draw and an Argentina loss to Poland.

Japan will close out Group E play against Spain on Thursday. Japan are in second place with three points, the same number of points as Costa Rica. But Japan enjoy a significant lead in goal difference, 0 to -6.

South Korea will be the last Asian team to wrap up the group stage on Friday, when they take on Portugal. The Taegeuk Warriors must win that match and will need either a Uruguay victory or a draw between Uruguay and Ghana for a chance to progress to the round of 16 in a tiebreaking scenario.

The AFC has never put more than two countries in the knockout stage of a World Cup. In both 2002 and 2010, South Korea and Japan were the only two AFC members in the knockouts.

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