A quick summary of action around the AFC second group phase on THU 06 OCT 2016.

• Japan 02-01 Iraq: The match entered stoppage time at 1-1, but Hotaru YAMAGUCHI awarded himself a birthday present by scoring the winner in the 95th. The result put the Samurai Blue into a tie – momentarily – for the Group B lead.
• China PR 00-01 Syria: Unfancied Syria are in the thick of things in Group A with their first win of the round. Mahmoud AL MAWAS scored on a counterattack early in the second half.
• Uzbekistan 00-01 Iran: Jalal HOSSEINI’s header midway through the first half ended the White Wolves’ nine match winning streak in the qualifiers. Iran and the Korea Rep are now joint leaders in Group A.
• Saudi Arabia 02-02 Australia: Taisir AL JASSEM scored for the host side five minutes in, but the Socceroos fought back and took the lead in the second half. Nassir AL SHAMRANI then found the equaliser. The sides remain level atop Group B on seven points each.