JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia scored a decisive 2-0 victory over Iraq in Amman, Jordan in the 2015 Asian Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

Osama Haosawi and Nasser Al-Shamrani tallied both goals in the 34th and 78th minutes for the Kingdom which now has 9 points from three matches in Group C.

Elsewhere, Singapore produced a huge surprise by upsetting Syria 2-1 for their first victory while Malaysia and Indonesia grabbed unlikely draws on a good night for Southeast Asia.

World Cup qualifiers Iran overcame a stubborn defensive effort by Thailand to claim a 2-1 win in Tehran but Jordan, hoping to join them in Brazil next year, played out a drab goalless draw at home to Oman.

Also, Ali Mabkhout scored a hat-trick as United Arab Emirates routed Hong Kong 4-0 to maintain their 100 percent record in Group E and Uzbekistan overcame Vietnam 3-1 in Tashkent.

Wednesday marked the halfway stage of the five qualifying groups with 11 places still up for grabs after a number of draws left the identity of the finalists in Australia still undecided.

Meantime, Ghana stunned Egypt 6-1 in the first leg of their World Cup playoff on Tuesday, in Kumasi, Ghana with Asamoah Gyan's fifth-minute goal kicking off a dominant performance that makes the Black Stars overwhelming favorites to be one of the five African teams in Brazil next year.

Ghana captain Gyan scored twice, once in each half, while Egypt captain Wael Gomaa scored an own goal to underline a disastrous first leg for the visitors. Chasing a first trip to the World Cup in over 20 years, Egypt under former United States coach Bob Bradley had appeared on course for a long-awaited qualification by battling through two years of violent unrest at home to make the final 10-team playoffs. The record seven-time African champion has only played in two World Cups before.