Australia see off Uzbekistan

Chipperfield: Australia's hero

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Australia began their campaign in the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan.

Scott Chipperfield scored the only goal of the game on 26 minutes to end Uzbekistan's formidable run of form at home.

Australia broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when Chipperfield headed home Luke Wilshire's cross.

Mark Bresciano wasted a great chance to double the lead before the break as Australia looked to put the game beyond Uzbekistan.

The home side rallied in the second half and Ulugbek Bakaev and Maksim Shatskikh both missed good openings.

Uzbekistan laid siege to the Australia goal in the closing stages, but Australia held on for an impressive victory to boost their qualifying hopes and inflict Uzbekistan's first home qualifying defeat since 2001.

In the other game in the group Qatar were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bahrain.

The hosts got off to a flying start when Sebastien Soria fired them in front after just five minutes.

However, Soria missed a great chance to double Qatar's lead on 36 minutes when he saw his penalty kept out by Bahrain keeper Sayed Mohammed.

Bahrain suffered a blow when Abdulla Marzooqi was sent off before the break for a second bookable offence.

Despite their numerical disadvantage the visitors grabbed an equaliser on 67 minutes when Abdulla Baba Fatadi slotted home.