Qatar's Abdelkarim Hassan was in action during the match against Iran in Dubai on Tuesday. — Reuters

Australia managed to halt Japan's impressive start to Asia's World Cup preliminaries on Tuesday, securing a 1-1 draw with the Group C leaders. Meanwhile, South Korea continued their winning streak with a 3-2 victory over Iraq.

In Group A, Uzbekistan secured a 1-0 win over the 10-man UAE in Tashkent, thanks to a 76th-minute penalty from Otobek Shukurov. Iran maintained their pace with a 4-1 comeback victory against Qatar.

Almoez Ali gave the Asian Cup holders the lead with a first-time strike in the 17th minute, but Sardar Azmoun scored either side of the interval to put Iran ahead. Mohammed Mohebi added the third in the 65th minute and sealed the win deep into injury time.

Kyrgyzstan achieved their first-ever win in this phase of qualifying with Khristiyan Brauzman scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over North Korea in Bishkek. China secured their first win in Group C, defeating Indonesia 2-1 in Qingdao with first-half goals from Behram Abduweli and Zhang Yuning.

South Korea, who have appeared at every World Cup since 1986, secured a 3-2 win over Iraq in Seoul, moving three points clear at the top of Group B. Oh Se-hun put the Koreans ahead in the top-of-the-table clash four minutes before halftime, but Aymen Hussein's overhead kick leveled the score. Oh Hyeon-gyu restored Korea's lead with 16 minutes remaining, and Lee Jae-sung scored their third nine minutes later.

Jordan jumped ahead of Iraq and into second place on goal-difference in the group with a 4-0 trouncing of Oman. Palestine picked up a point with a 2-2 draw against Kuwait.

The Japanese had won nine consecutive World Cup qualifiers without conceding, but Shogo Taniguchi's own goal in the 58th minute gave the Socceroos an unexpected lead. Popovic, in his second game in charge, had set his side up in an ultra-defensive formation. However, substitute Keito Nakamura eventually unlocked the Socceroos' defence with 14 minutes remaining, leading to Cameron Burgess' own goal.

The result moves Japan, aiming for an eighth successive World Cup qualification, onto 10 points from four games. Australia is five points behind in second place, with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain a point further adrift.