Disgrunted voices

Choi had said he would step down once qualification was assured and the coach was in no doubt his reign had been poor after a number of disgruntled voices in the Ulsan crowd watched one of Asia's most talented sides stutter over the line.

"I would like to express gratitude to the players who had hard times due to a bad coach," Choi said in a televised interview.

Choi had said that Uzbekistan were going to join them in qualifying but it was Iran who topped Group A, leaving Carlos Queiroz to enjoy the last laugh after the "bad manners" row.

"We were technically superior and decisive in the face of crisis," Queiroz said after the backs-to-the-wall victory.

The Uzbeks knew they had to record a four-goal win at home to Qatar and hope Iran drew with Korea to have any hope of sealing an automatic qualifying berth and a first finals appearance.

The home side dominated from start to finish against their already-eliminated opponents but found Qatar's debutant goalkeeper Ahmed Abonora in good form.

Eventually, though, the pressure told and five goals came in the final 30 minutes but Korea edged second place behind Iran courtesy of having a better goal difference by two.

"Life goes on and we will give our best to qualify for Brazil," Uzbek coach Mirjalol Kasimov said.

While they will start as favorites against Jordan they will not fancy the first leg trip to the King Abdullah Stadium where Jordan followed up home wins over Asian heavyweights Japan and Australia by beating Oman to pinch a playoff berth.

Ahmad Ibrahim stooped low to score a second-half header, maintaining Jordan's unbeaten home run and denying Oman a place in the playoff.