In the AFC second group phase on THU 23 MAR 2017, teams further down the tables began to make their moves – though it may be too little, too late.

• China PR 01-00 Korea Rep: YU Dabao’s first half header lifted China PR off the bottom of Group A...
• Syria 01-00 Uzbekistan: ...as Syria pulled within a point of the third place Uzbeks. Omar KHRBIN scored the lone goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
• Iraq 01-01 Australia: Ahmed YASIN’s goal fourteen minutes from time earned a point for Iraq, but they still languish in fifth place in Group B...
• United Arab Emirates 00-02 Japan: ...as the Samurai Blue keep pace with group leaders Saudi Arabia. Yuya KUBO and Yasuyuki KONNO were the goalscorers.