WATCH: Syria one step closer to World Cup qualification despite comedy own goal

Face off.

Qualifying for the next World Cup, in 2018, is well underway and the wheat is being separated from the footballing chaff in Australasia. China and Australia had big wins last night and Syria moved on to the next group stage of the qualifiers despite getting pinged 5-0 by Japan. The Syrians held out for 17 minutes against Japan, who did not concede a single goal in their group games, before a freak own goal. Defender Hamdi Al Masri was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when goalkeeper Ibrahim Almeh attempted to punch clear. Al Masri could do nothing but get hit in the kisser. Japan went on to score four more times and re-affirm their position at the top of their group. Syria went through as best runner-up and join Japan, China, Australia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, UAE, Iraq and Thailand in the next stage.