TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - For the second time in a row, Japan has become the first side to qualify for a World Cup, booking its spot with a 1-0 win at Uzbekistan on Saturday.
The tense victory secured Japan's spot alongside host South Africa at football's showpiece event, with the Asian side securing a fourth successive World Cup finals berth.
Asian Group A rival Australia was expected to join Japan in progressing Saturday, needing only a point from its visit to Qatar.
Meanwhile, North Korea missed an opportunity to take a large stride toward South Africa, being held to a 0-0 home draw by Iran in Group B. That result did little for either side, with Iran's qualification hopes now hanging by a thread.
Japan's unusual goal came in the ninth minute. Kengo Nakamura looped a pass into path of Shinji Okazaki. Under pressure from a defender and stumbling, Okazaki got a shot away which was blocked at close range by Uzbek keeper Ignatiy Nesterov, but the Japan striker -- falling to the ground -- somehow managed to get his head to the rebound and put it into the net.
The visitors got the ball in the net again soon after, but it was ruled out for offside. Japan carved out the best opportunities throughout the match, but was increasingly on the back foot in the last 15 minutes.
Server Djeparov came close to scoring on a few occasions, and Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for raising an arm into the face of the Uzbek winger when blocking.
Japan manager Takeshi Okada was sent to the stands for protesting that decision and may not have seen Uzbekistan's closest attempt in stoppage time when Islom Tukhtahujaev's long-range shot was deflected and Japan keeper Seigo Narazaki had to scramble to tip it onto the bar and away to safety.
The result put Uzbekistan on the brink of elimination. To get third spot in the group, and a further playoff, it must rely on Bahrain losing away to Australia on Wednesday, and it then must win away at Bahrain the following week, while also hoping not to be overtaken in the standings by last-placed Qatar.
In Group B, both North Korea and Iran were unsatisfied with their 0-0 draw.
With the top two teams from the five-team group to qualify directly for South Africa 2010 and the third-placed team to go into a further playoff, Iran stays in fourth with seven points from six games.
It faces a must-win home game against the already eliminated United Arab Emirates on Wednesday before a final fixture away to first-placed South Korea.
Victory for North Korea would have secured at least a playoff spot, but it now must either win its final game away to Saudi Arabia on June 17, or hope other results go its way.
Iran was the better team for the first half. Osasuna midfielder Masoud Shojaei tested goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk after just four minutes, turning and hitting a first time shot from close range that Ri just managed to turn onto the post.
Bochum striker Vahid Hashemian shot narrowly wide five minutes before the break.
North Korea, displaying greater physical reserves than Iran, got on top in the second half.
With the clock running down, Park Nam Chol produced a fierce shot that was heading toward the top right corner, forcing a superb diving save by Iran's goalkeeper Seyed Rahmati.
In stoppage time, Hong Yong Jo had the best chance of the game. With Rahmati advancing well out of his area to stifle a counter attack, Hong just had to round the keeper and have a shot at an open net from 30 metres. He instead elected to take a first-time shot that was well off target.
