Korea Republic moved a step closer to reaching their tenth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals by defeating Iraq on the road.

Lee Jaesung, Son Heungmin and Jeong Wooyeong were on target as Paulo Bento’s charges claimed a 3-0 win in their sixth match of Group A in the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Thani Bin Jassim Stadim in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday.

The Taegeuk Warriors have the world finals in sight with the victory, having collected 14 points (four wins and two draws) – two adrift of leaders Iran (16 points from five wins and a draw) with four games remaining in the final round. With the United Arab Emirates in third place with only six points, Korea Republic can extend their eight-point lead to secure passage to the finals with a couple of games to spare.

The Asian Qualifiers resume at the end of January next year, with Korea Republic set to take on Lebanon (27 January, away), Syria (1 February, away), Iran (24 March, home) and UAE (29 March, away). 4.5 tickets are allocated to the AFC – the winners and the runners-up from each group advance to the finals, with the third-placed teams to go through the playoffs.

Bento opted for the same side that edged the Emiratis at home, once again deploying Cho Guesung who had successfully replaced injured striker Hwang Uijo last week. Son and Hwang Heechan started on the flanks, with the support from Lee Jaesung, Jung Wooyoung and Hwang Inbeom in midfield. Kim Jinsu, Kwon Kyungwon, Kim Minjae and Lee Yong at the back, Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

The visitors seemed to struggle from the fatigue on the road, unable to create any clear-cut chances despite dominating the game in terms of ball possession. Son, Hwang and then Cho tried their luck from distance midway through the first half, as the men in red kept knocking on the Iraqi door.

The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes. Lee Yong’s cross from the right found Kim Jinsu on the opposite side of the box. And the loose ball fell across the goalmouth and into the path of Lee Jaesung, who nonchalantly put his side ahead with a clinical finish inside the far post.

Korea Republic doubled their lead with Son’s penalty on 74 minutes. Second-half substitute Jeong was involved, combining with Son to break into the area before delivering a cross into the goalmouth. As Cho was connecting with a volley, the Jeonbuk marksman was brought down by a reckless tackle from Ali Adnan, and the referee awarded the penalty following a VAR review.

Son stepped up for the spot kick, which he duly converted, but the referee ordered to retake the penalty following another VAR review – as Jeong was adjudged to be inside the area when the kick was taken. Nevertheless, Son calmly converted his second attempt, to score his 30th international goal and move into joint sixth place alongside the likes of Huh Jungmoo, Kim Dohoon and Choi Soonho in the all-time Korea Republic scoring leaders list.

Jeong, who had come off the bench to replace Lee Jaesung, put his name on the list with his first goal for Korea Republic on 79 minutes, latching onto a neat pass from Hwang to make it 3-0. Bento had enough space and time to test some of his players on the bench, as the visitors rounded off a comprehensive victory.

AFC Asian Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Final Round

Group A

Iraq 0-3 Korea Republic

Scorers: Lee Jaesung 33’, Son Heungmin 74’ (pen), Jeong Wooyeong 79’

KOR: Kim Seunggyu; Kim Jinsu (Hong Chul 82’), Kwon Kyungwon, Kim Minjae, Lee Yong; Jung Wooyoung, Son Heungmin (Um Wonsang 88’), Lee Jaesung (Jeong Wooyeong 66’), Hwang Inbeom (Song Minkyu 82’), Hwang Heechan (Paik Seungho 88’); Cho Guesung