With only the three group winners guaranteed qualification for London 2012 and the second placed finishers in each group facing a three team play-off for the right to meet an African representative, Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan and Syria all posted wins as the final round began at the end of September.

Korea saw off Oman 2-0 to set the pace in Group A ahead of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, while Uzbekistan pulled clear at the top of Group B after downing Iraq by the same scoreline as Australia were held to a goalless draw by the United Arab Emirates in Adelaide.

In Group C, Syria and Japan made the early running after recording respective wins over Bahrain and Malaysia.

And Korea, who are ranked as Asia’s number one U-23 side, will look to follow up their home win over GCC U-23 champions Oman against Qatar and Saudi Arabia in Group A.

The Koreans, who had goals from Yoon Bit-garam and Kim Bo-kyung to thank for their win over Oman, first travel to Al Sadd SC Stadium to face Qatar in Doha on November 23 before Saudi Arabia make the trip to Seoul just four days later.

The trip to Seoul rounds off a run of back-to-back away games for Saudi Arabia following their earlier short trip to Muscat.

Japan, meanwhile, are seeking to follow up their 2-0 win over Malaysia against Bahrain and fellow opening round winners Syria to reach the halfway mark of the group stage in a strong position as they bid for a fifth consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.

Keigo Higashi and Ryohei Yamazaki scored for Japan at Tosu Stadium, while Syria made their intentions in Group C clear as Mardek Mardkian scored twice in their 3-1 win over Bahrain.

Takashi Sekizuka’s Japan continue their campaign in Bahrain before entertaining Syria five days later, with the trip to Japan rounding of a run of back-to-back away games for Syria, who first must travel to Malaysia.

Malaysia, meanwhile, will look to use their run of back-to-back home games against Syria and Bahrain to kick start their campaign following their opening day defeat by Japan.

The UAE, meanwhile, will hope to build on the point they claimed in Adelaide as the 2010 Asian Games silver medalists face back-to-back home games against Uzbekistan and Iraq.