Group 1

06.01.89: Oman-Iraq 1-1
06.01.89: Qatar-Jordan 1-0
13.01.89: Jordan-Iraq 0-1 (Goal)
13.01.89: Oman-Qatar 0-0
20.01.89: Jordan-Oman 2-0
20.01.89: Qatar-Iraq 1-0
27.01.89: Iraq-Oman 3-1 (Goals)
27.01.89: Jordan-Qatar 1-1 (Goals)
03.02.89: Iraq-Jordan 4-0 (Goals)
03.02.89: Qatar-Oman 3-0 
10.02.89: Iraq-Qatar 2-2 (Goals) 
10.02.89: Oman-Jordan 0-2

1. Qatar 6 3 3 0 8-3 9
   ………………………….
2. Iraq 6 3 2 1 11-5 8
3. Jordan 6 2 1 3 5-7 5
4. Oman 6 0 2 4 2-11 2

Comment: Qatar secured progress to the final group stage thanks to a leveller five minutes from time in the final qualifier in Baghdad, where an estimated 50,000 strong crowd had tried to spur the home side on. Had they held on to their 2-1 lead at that point, the Iraqis would’ve advanced. Qatar followed the famous recipe of winning their home ties and drawing away from home, with that 1-0 win against Iraq proving decisive. They also scored decisive goals inside the final ten minutes in three of their matches to boost their points tally. Jordan twice beat Oman to claim third spot, but had lost both matches against Iraq, and drawing at home to Qatar to gain their solitary point from four outings against the top 2. 

Leading goalscorers: Ahmad Radhi Amaiesh Al-Salehi (Iraq) 6, Mahmoud Yaseen Soufi (Qatar – aged 17!) 5

Group 2

10.03.89: North Yemen-Syria 0-1
15.03.89: Saudi Arabia-Syria 5-4 (Goals)
20.03.89: North Yemen-Saudi Arabia 0-1 (Goal)
25.03.89: Syria-North Yemen 2-0 (first goal)
30.03.89: Syria-Saudi Arabia 0-0
05.04.89: Saudi Arabia-North Yemen 1-0 (Goal)

1. Saudi Arabia 4 3 1 0 7-4 7
   ……………………………………
2. Syria 4 2 1 1 7-5 5
3. North Yemen 4 0 0 4 0-5 0

Comment: This group was concluded within the time span of a month, and Saudi Arabia had gained early control with that sensational 5-4 home win against challengers Syria, who had begun their campaign with a win in Sana’a. In Jeddah, where the Saudis were playing their home matches, the winning goal among the nine had come following an initial penalty save from the visiting ‘keeper. Saudi Arabia then won it late in North Yemen, while they managed to contain Syria in front of some 40,000 fans in Latakia in the group decider, despite having a player sent off for punching an opponent, and surviving six frantic minutes of injury time. Ultimately, a point in their final match, at home to pointless North Yemen, had sufficed to see the Saudis through to the final qualification group stage. They won it courtesy of a goal late in the first half. There had been plenty of headed goals in this group.

Leading goalscorers: Nizar Mahrous (Syria) 2, Majed Abdullah and Fahad Al-Musaibeah (both Saudi Arabia) 2

Group 3

06.01.89: Pakistan-Kuwait 0-1 (Goal)
13.01.89: Kuwait-United Arab Emirates 3-2 (Goals)
20.01.89: United Arab Emirates-Pakistan 5-0 (Goals)
27.01.89: Kuwait-Pakistan 2-0 (Goals)
03.02.89: United Arab Emirates-Kuwait 1-0 (Goal)
10.02.89: Pakistan-United Arab Emirates 1-4 (UAE’s goals)

1. United Arab Emirates 4 3 0 1 12-4 6
   …………………………………………………..
2. Kuwait 4 3 0 1 6-3 6
3. Pakistan 4 0 0 4 1-12 0

Comment: Kuwait had set themselves up nicely ahead of the all-decisive clash against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah, having won their first three matches. Whilst both had dealt comfortably with Pakistan, albeit UAE more decisively so through big wins both home and away, the Emirates knew that a win to avenge the 3-2 defeat in Kuwait City the previous month would all but secure their passage through to the next qualification phase. For the Kuwaitis, a draw would suffice. Adnan Al-Talyani’s goal settled matters. The same player would subsequently score a ‘worldie’ in their final game in Islamabad, so please check out UAE’s third goal in Pakistan. 

Leading goalscorer: Ibrahim Abdul Razaq Al-Bloushi (UAE) 3

Group 4

23.05.89: Malaysia-Nepal 2-0
23.05.89: South Korea-Singapore 3-0 (Goals)
25.05.89: Malaysia-Singapore 1-0
25.05.89: South Korea-Nepal 9-0 (goals)
27.05.89: Nepal-Singapore 0-3 (first goal)
27.05.89: South Korea-Malaysia 3-0 (goals)
03.06.89: Singapore-Malaysia 2-2 (goals)
03.06.89: Nepal-South Korea 0-4 
05.06.89: Singapore-Nepal 7-0 
05.06.89: Malaysia-South Korea 0-3 (goals)
07.06.89: Nepal-Malaysia 0-3
07.06.89: Singapore-South Korea 0-3 (goals – third goal from Noh Soo-jin pretty special)

1. South Korea 6 6 0 0 25-0 12
   ………………………………………..
2. Malaysia 6 3 1 2 8-8 7
3. Singapore 6 2 1 3 12-9 5
4. Nepal 6 0 0 6 0-28 0

Comment: The outcome in this group was never in doubt. South Korea were several divisions above their ‘rivals’ in terms of quality, and while they quite spectacularly won all four of their matches against the two least inferior teams in the group, Malaysia and Singapore, by identical 3-0 scorelines, their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal kept their winning margins down. Having said that, they did put nine past sorry Nepal in one of their matches, despite changing their team around entirely. They impressed in both those matches from which we have available to us extended highlights, and their direct and attacking brand of football was pleasing to the eye. Malaysia, with three points from the four available over the two fixtures against Singapore finished second, and they did seem the better side judging by the 2-2 draw between them in Singapore. Nepal couldn’t get a single goal in their six matches, and conceded on average 4,5 goals per game. 

Leading goalscorer: Hwang Sun-hong (South Korea) 5

Group 5

19.02.89: Thailand-Bangladesh 1-0 (goal)
23.02.89: China-Bangladesh 2-0 
23.02.89: Thailand-Iran 0-3 (goals)
27.02.89: Bangladesh-Iran 1-2 
28.02.89: Thailand-China 0-3 (goals)
04.03.89: Bangladesh-China 0-2 
08.03.89: Bangladesh-Thailand 3-1 
17.03.89: Iran-Bangladesh 1-0 (goal)
30.05.89: Iran-Thailand 3-0 (first two goals)
15.07.89: China-Iran 2-0 (goals)
22.07.89: Iran-China 3-2 (goals)
29.07.89: China-Thailand 2-0 (goals)

1. China 6 5 0 1 13-3 10
   ……………………………..
2. Iran 6 5 0 1 12-5 10
3. Bangladesh 6 1 0 5 4-9 2
4. Thailand 6 1 0 5 2-14 2

Comment: The group was set up for the big two, China and Iran, to meet one another twice after they had both negotiated the other two participants, even though China had the luxury of still having to play lowly Thailand at home in their final fixture. Bangladesh had initially lost in Thailand, but won the return fixture by a two goal margin, and looked the third best side, as the table would confirm. China built up a sound advantage after winning their home game against Iran, though in the return fixture a week later the Iranians raced into a three goal lead and looked to apply all sorts of pressure on the Chinese ahead of their decider against Thailand. Only until China scored twice in Tehran to give themselves a more comfortable task in the final match, where now just a win, and not a win by a big margin, was demanded of them. They ultimately delivered. 

Leading goalscorer: Ma Lin (China) 5

Group 6

21.05.89: Indonesia-North Korea 0-0 
22.05.89: Hong Kong-Japan 0-0
27.05.89: Hong Kong-North Korea 1-2
28.05.89: Indonesia-Japan 0-0 (highlights)
04.06.89: Hong Kong-Indonesia 1-1 (goals)
04.06.89: Japan-North Korea 2-1 (highlights)
11.06.89: Japan-Indonesia 5-0 (goals)
18.06.89: Japan-Hong Kong 0-0 (highlights)
25.06.89: Indonesia-Hong Kong 3-2 
25.06.89: North Korea-Japan 2-0 (goals)
02.07.89: North Korea-Hong Kong 4-1 (goals)
09.07.89: North Korea-Indonesia 2-1 (goals)

1. North Korea 6 4 1 1 11-5 9
   …………………………………….
2. Japan 6 2 3 1 7-3 7
3. Indonesia 6 1 3 2 5-10 5
4. Hong Kong 6 0 3 3 5-10 3

Comment: North Korea had to rely on their final three matches, which were all on home soil, for progress, and the fixture list had as such been kind to them, as they had gathered a sufficient amount of points from their three away matches to be able to decide progress through to the next phase in front of their own fans in Pyongyang. Japan gave them a mighty scare through winning 2-1 in Tokyo, but then they failed to beat Hong Kong in their next, final home tie, and so they lost their way. The 2-0 home win for the Koreans against the then group leaders, in what was the first of their trio of home fixtures, paved way for a first place finish. They ultimately delivered against Hong Kong and Indonesia to finish two points ahead of Japan. Indonesia only lost twice in six matches, and deservedly claimed third spot. 

Leading goalscorers: Six players with two goals each – Bredbury and Nang Leung (both Hong Kong), Kiswanto (Indonesia), Pung-il, Hyong-il and Gyong-sik (all of North Korea). 

Final round

The six group winners came together in Singapore for a round robin competition on neutral soil, where the two best teams would progress through to the World Cup. Some participants had waited for as long as eight months and a bit, so winners of groups 1 and 3, Qatar and United Arab Emirates respectively, might have been the most uncertain quantities among the six. The other ‘West Asia winner’, Saudi Arabia, had played their final first stage group fixture as relatively late as April 5. However, all three ‘East Asia winners’ had played until June and July, and so had much more recently been involved in telling matches. 

South Korea had looked impressive in their original group phase matches, although the level of the opposition must be questioned. Both China and North Korea had faced tough opposition in their groups from Iran and Japan respectively, something which might have prepared them well for the five matches which awaited all six participating teams. 

Which among the three Arab contestants was considered the stronger beforehand? Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia had gone through their first phase matches undefeated, while United Arab Emirates had amassed the highest goal tally. Saudi Arabia had won both the 1984 and 1988 editions of the Asian Cup, and were said to have their strongest select ever, so they were listed among the favourites to progress through to a first World Cup participation. 

Qatar’s Somali born teenage goalscoring sensation Mahmoud Soufi would only turn 18 on the day of their third fixture. He’d found the back of the net an impressive five times in the six first phase matches (he’d started each of the six). Both South Korea, in Hwang Sun-hong, and China, in Ma Lin, also had players who had struck the back of the net on five occasions during the first phase group stage. A proven goalscorer could well be key to any team with genuine World Cup aspirations. 

Notice how all three Arab representatives have a Brazilian head coach: Mário Zagallo (three times a World Cup winner as a player and manager) for United Arab Emirates, Carlos Alberto Parreira (who had led Kuwait to and during the 1982 World Cup in Spain) for Saudi Arabia, and Dino Sano for Qatar, who had been a part of that 1958 World Cup winning squad, having featured in Brazil’s first two matches in that tournament. 

Four from these 15 matches are available to us in full-length versions, three of which include United Arab Emirates. These are their matches against Saudi Arabia, Qatar and South Korea. In addition, Saudi Arabia’s encounter with South Korea is another 90 minutes version. There is an online vendor of old matches who has available in his catalogue another two in 50 minutes versions, the Korean duel as well as United Arab Emirates vs China, but he appears to have closed his shop for good, and we’ve yet been unable to retrieve the footage from this pair of fixtures.

Game day 1
12.10.89: China-Saudi Arabia 2-1 (goals)
12.10.89: United Arab Emirates-North Korea 0-0
13.10.89: South Korea-Qatar 0-0 

Comment: On the opening day, China produced an excellent comeback win having been a goal down to the fancied Saudi Arabia team. The Arab representatives had moved in front midway through the first half courtesy of a Fahad Al-Bishi penalty, but two Mai Chao strikes, the first of which was also a penalty, saw the Chinese turn the deficit around. Having defeated one of the favourites, China had now put themselves in a favourable position. North Korea and United Arab Emirates played out a scoreless draw, as did South Korea and Qatar the next day. 

Game day 2
16.10.89: Qatar-Saudi Arabia 1-1 (goals)
16.10.89: South Korea-North Korea 1-0 (goal)
17.10.89: China-United Arab Emirates 1-2 (goals)

Table: 
1. United Arab Emirates 2 1 1 0 2-1 3
2. South Korea 2 1 1 0 1-0 3
3. China 2 1 0 1 3-3 2
4. Qatar 2 0 2 0 1-1 2
5. Saudi Arabia 2 0 1 1 2-3 1
6. North Korea 2 0 1 1 0-1 1

Comment: In the clash between the two Korean teams, South won against North by the only goal of the game, scored by that exciting prospect of a 21 year old forward that was Hwang Sun-hong on 18 minutes. This propelled the 1986 World Cup participants up to three points from their opening two fixtures, while their northern neighbours now had just a single point and no goals yet to show for. Qatar and Saudi Arabia drew a goal apiece, with the latter once again failing to hold on to a lead. They’d gone in front early thanks to young attacking midfielder Sadoun Al-Suraiti’s goal, but two minutes from time Qatar’s experienced striker Mansour Muftah Al-Abdullah earned his side a share of the spoils. Saudi Arabia now had a solitary point from their opening two fixtures. On the following day, the second round of fixtures was completed as China stunningly conceded two late goals to United Arab Emirates, having led through Tang Yaodong’s excellent 62nd minute goal. Aerially strong centre-back Khalil Ghanim and then ace striker Adnan Al-Talyani turned the game on its head with goals in the 88th and 89th minute respectively. 

Game day 3
20.10.89: China-South Korea 0-1 (goal)
20.10.89: North Korea-Qatar 2-0 (goals)
21.10.89: Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates 0-0 (highlights)

Table: 
1. South Korea 3 2 1 0 2-0 5
2. United Arab Emirates 3 1 2 0 2-1 4
3. North Korea 3 1 1 1 2-1 3
4. China 3 1 0 2 3-4 2
5. Saudi Arabia 3 0 2 1 2-3 2
6. Qatar 3 0 2 1 1-3 2

Comment: As the final round of AFC qualification progressed past its halfway stage, surprise package United Arab Emirates remained undefeated after their encounter with another one of the pre-tournament favourites, namely Saudi Arabia. In very wet conditions, the Saudis were for large portions of the game the better team, but could not score. This left them on two points from three matches, with UAE two points ahead of them. Top of the pile were South Korea following their second successive 1-0 win, this time against a Chinese team which suffered their second straight defeat. North Korea, with an impressive two goals win against Qatar, hauled themselves right back in contention for one of the World Cup berths thanks to first half goals from Pung-il and Gyong-sik. The remarkably low goals per game ratio now read 1,33 heading into the final two rounds. 

Game day 4
24.10.89: North Korea-China 0-1 (goal)
24.10.89: United Arab Emirates-Qatar 1-1 (goals/highlights)
25.10.89: Saudi Arabia-South Korea 0-2 (goals)

Table: 
1. South Korea 4 3 1 0 4-0 7
2. United Arab Emirates 4 1 3 0 3-2 5
3. China 4 2 0 2 4-4 4
4. North Korea 4 1 1 2 2-2 3
5. Qatar 4 0 3 1 2-4 3
6. Saudi Arabia 4 0 2 2 2-5 2

Comment: First out were North Korea and China, and the contest was settled midway through the second half, when Yuxin’s close range strike after the North Korean defence had failed to deal with a cross from the left saw China move up to four points. They must have rued how they’d failed to hold on to the lead against United Arab Emirates, as they would’ve had qualified for Italia ’90 already if they had. Next up, United Arab Emirates earned their third draw from four as they saw the opponents miss a penalty in first half injury time through central defender Al-Sulaiti, who had already scored Qatar’s equalizer. For UAE, centre-back Khalil Ghanim had netted his second of the series to give them a 20th minute lead. On the following day, a third straight win for South Korea saw them secure their passage through to a second successive World Cup. It also meant Saudi Arabia no longer had the chance to qualify. The goals in an even game were scored at the end of each half, the first of which was a bit of a howler from Saudi goalkeeper Al-Deahyea as he failed to keep out Bo-kwan’s 35 yard free-kick. Just before full time, the AFC qualification’s leading scorer Sun-hong kept his composure to increase the margin of their victory. It was the 21 year old’s seventh strike since the start of their campaign. 

Game day 5
28.10.89: Saudi Arabia-North Korea 2-0 (goals)
28.10.89: United Arab Emirates-South Korea 1-1 (goals)
28.10.89: Qatar-China 2-1 (goals)

Final standings: 

1. South Korea 5 3 2 0 5-1 8
2. United Arab Emirates 5 1 4 0 4-3 6
   …………………………………………………..
3. Qatar 5 1 3 1 4-5 5
4. China 5 2 0 3 5-6 4
5. Saudi Arabia 5 1 2 2 4-5 4
6. North Korea 5 1 1 3 2-4 3   

Comment: 

With all three matches kicking off simultaneously across three different stadia in Singapore, they all carried significance with regards to qualification or possible qualification. The top two teams came together, and China, North Korea and Qatar must all have been hoping for the South Korean team to carry their rich vein of form even into this final fixture, as a defeat for United Arab Emirates meant there was still every chance for either of these three to reach Italia ’90. China looked the best outsider bet, as they faced Qatar, who had yet to win, while a win for North Korea against the already eliminated Saudi Arabian team could propel them into an unlikely second spot finish, if results elsewhere went their way. Qatar were the rank outsiders in this scenario, but a win against China and a loss for UAE against South Korea would see goal difference come into decisive play. 

South Korea were the first to strike on the day, through Bo-kwan’s rasping finish from a wide position inside the area to give them a seventh minute lead against UAE. Their northern neighbours would then concede against Saudi Arabia for the second goal of the day, leaving the race to qualify along with the South Koreans a battle between United Arab Emirates and China, in reality. Then UAE levelled against South Korea on 16 minutes through Al-Talyani’s header, the very first goal conceded by the South Koreans throughout their entire 11 matches long qualification campaign, something which meant Qatar, at that point, were definitely out of contention. These remained the only first half goals across the three fixtures, and the half-time table read thus: 

1. South Korea 5 3 2 0 5-1 8
2. United Arab Emirates 5 1 4 0 4-3 6
3. China 5 2 1 2 4-4 5
4. Saudi Arabia 5 1 2 2 3-5 4
5. Qatar 5 0 4 1 2-4 4
6. North Korea 5 1 1 3 2-3 3

A single Chinese goal, if the 1-1 scoreline remained between South Korea and UAE, would suffice to see them through to Italia ’90. The next goal, however, came for Saudi Arabia, who on 57 minutes increased their lead against the hapless North Koreans, as both of these by now are with no chance of qualifying. With the clock ticking away, news filtered through from the China-Qatar match that Ma Lin, the Chinese’ leading scorer from the original group stage, with five goals, had put them ahead on 76 minutes. So China were heading towards the World Cup and a first ever participation. They just needed to see their game out, and hope that United Arab Emirates didn’t score against already qualified South Korea. 

China’s inability to hold on to a lead, they’d conceded twice inside the final three minutes of the match against UAE, came back to haunt them, as not only did Qatar draw level through their teenage sensation Mahmoud Al-Soufi on 87 minutes, but they even scored a second only a minute later, as their leading striker Mansour Muftah Al-Abdullah completed Qatar’s comeback to seal a 2-1 win. It really was remarkable. China had a talented side, but just couldn’t see a game out. Qatar’s goals were sweet music for their Arab brethren UAE, who no longer needed to beat South Korea to advance through. What incredible late drama on the final day of qualification!

It turned out to be such a tightly contested round robin affair with few goals (an average of 1,6 per game), where no team amassed more than a goal per game on average. The South Koreans were the better side, and lived up to expectations from beforehand, only conceding once in their five fixtures, and defeating both their regional rivals along the way, reaching their second successive World Cup, their third altogether. They only conceded in their final match, when they were held by surprise package United Arab Emirates, the only other team undefeated. This ultimately saw UAE through to their first ever World Cup participation. To Qatar, their two goal loss against North Korea became their undoing. It was their only defeat, paired with being the Koreans’ solitary win. A 0-0 draw then and with every other result remaining as they were would have left United Arab Emirates and Qatar on identical records. 

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