An Asian Cup qualifier between Japan and Hong Kong was to go ahead yesterday as planned after the city of Shizuoka avoided a direct hit from a powerful typhoon, the Japan Football Association said.The Asian Cup Group A match was set to kick off at 7:20 p.m. local time.
The association made the announcement as Typhoon Melor churned north across the main Japanese island of Honshu after making landfall earlier in the day. Sunshine returned to Shizuoka with winds weakening, local officials said.
Bahrain lead Group A with two wins, followed by Japan and Yemen. Hong Kong are at the bottom after two defeats.
The top two teams from each of five groups will qualify for the finals in Qatar in 2011.
Hosts Qatar as well as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the top three in the 2007 tournament, have automatic berths as does India, the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup winners. The 2009 AFC Challenge Cup winners will also qualify.
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