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XIAMEN, China — Japan is within touching distance of an eighth straight World Cup appearance after a 3-1 win over China put the team nine points clear of second-place Australia which drew 2-2 with Bahrain in their Asian qualifying group. The Samurai Blue have 16 points from six games with four to go in Group C. Australia is next with seven points after Kusini Yengi scored in the 96th minute to earn a dramatic draw for the Socceroos in Bahrain. Indonesia stunned Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta. In Group B, South Korea stays top despite being held to a 1-1 draw by the Palestinian team in Amman, Jordan.
