Photo/Illutration Japan players pose for a team group photo before the match in Xiamen, China, on Nov. 19 (REUTERS/Florence Lo)

HONG KONG--Japan's march to the 2026 World Cup continued on Tuesday as Hajime Moriyasu's side handed China a 3-1 defeat in Xiamen to notch up a fifth win in Asia's third round of preliminaries while Saudi Arabia suffered a 2-0 loss against Indonesia.

Koki Ogawa scored with a header in each half to move the Japanese onto 16 points from six games and further cement their place at the top of Group C.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, held on to defeat North Korea 1-0 in Vientiane in Group A despite playing 17 minutes with 10 men as goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov saved a late penalty.

The top two finishers in each of Asia's three preliminary groups qualify for the World Cup and Japan are now on the verge of confirming their place at their eighth consecutive finals.

Japan had thrashed China 7-0 in their previous meeting in September and Moriyasu's side went ahead in the 39th minute when Ogawa powered his header from Takefusa Kubo's corner past Wang Dalei.

Six minutes into stoppage time the Japanese doubled their lead from another corner, Ko Itakura diving in to apply the finishing touch after Koki Machida had flicked on Junya Ito's pass from the right.

Lin Liangming pulled one back for China three minutes after the restart but a second header from Ogawa six minutes later sealed another win for the Japanese.

Japan are now 10 points clear at the summit with second-placed Australia due to face Bahrain in Riffa later on Tuesday.

Indonesia pulled themselves into contention in Group C with victory over Saudi Arabia, Marselino Ferdinan scoring twice to give Shin Tae-yong's team their first win of the campaign.

A 32nd minute curling effort was followed by a flick over goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar 12 minutes into the second half as Indonesia move onto six points from six games, level with the Saudis.

In Group A, Uzbekistan bounced back from their loss on Thursday to Qatar to secure a narrow win over North Korea.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev's heavily deflected shot in the 44th minute gave the lead to Uzbekistan, who held on after Umarbek Eshmurodov was sent off and Yusupov saved Jong Il Gwan's late penalty.

Group leaders Iran will take on Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek while third-placed the United Arab Emirates host reigning Asian Cup holders Qatar in Al Ain later on Tuesday.

South Korea will look to maintain their dominance of Group B when they face Palestine in Amman with Oman hosting Iraq in Muscat and Kuwait playing second-placed Jordan.

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