South Korea and Uzbekistan will battle for a chance to clinch a World Cup berth when they face off in the AFC qualifiers on Tuesday.
Both teams are tied for first place in Group A with 11 points in six matches. The top two teams in the group automatically book passage to the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer. The third place team will compete with the Group B third place team. The winner of that matchup takes on the fifth place CONMEBOL squad for a chance to qualify for the tournament.
The winner of the match on Tuesday can clinch its spot in the tournament next summer.
The South Koreans have been dominant in the tournament with three victories, two draws, and one loss; the lone defeat came against Iran. In its most recent match, South Korea drew 1-1 with Lebanon. Lee Keun-Ho leads the team with three goals in the group stage; the entire team has scored 11 times in the round.
Uzbekistan has an identical record with three wins, two draws, and one loss. The team lost its first game against Iran and earned two ties in the following matches. After only putting up two points in three games, Uzbekistan won three straight to jump to the top spot in the group.
Korea and Uzbekistan battled to a 2-2 draw on September 11, 2012. The match featured own goals against both clubs.
Prediction: The two sides will play a wide open and aggressive match. Look for the game to end in a 1-1 draw.
Start Time: 7 AM EST
TV: EuroSport International