UAE sets up World Cup playoff with Australia

The United Arab Emirates handed South Korea a surprise 1-0 defeat in Dubai to set up a playoff clash with Australia as they kept alive their hopes of a first World Cup appearance in 32 years.

Hareb Abdalla's 54th minute goal sealed a third-place finish in Group A for Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side, ensuring the UAE will take on the Socceroos, who suffered a 1-0 defeat by Saudi Arabia in the late kick-off, in a one-off meeting in Doha on June 7.

The winner of that match with then face the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers with a berth in the finals in Qatar at stake.

Abdalla struck against the run of play for the Emiratis, who were facing a Korean side that had not conceded a goal in their previous five qualifiers and were looking for a victory that would secure them top spot in Group A.

Striker Hwang Hee-chan hit the woodwork in the first half as the Koreans dominated but, nine minutes after the restart, Abdalla scored.

The 19-year-old, deputising for suspended first-choice forward Ali Mabkhout, latched onto Mohammed Al Baloushi's pass and calmly stroked the ball past Jo Hyeon-woo.

South Korea hit the frame of the goal again six minutes later when Hwang Ui-jo's header clipped the top of the bar but they could not deny the UAE, who are looking to qualify for the finals for the first time since making their debut in 1990.

The UAE finished in third place in the group ahead of Iraq, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Syria.

The World Cup draw is set to be held in Doha on Friday. The showpiece tournament will be played from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.