The footballers from the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives pulled off the result of the night in Group 7, holding 2002 World Cup semi-finalists South Korea to a 0-0 draw in Male.

Asian champions Japan meanwhile were heading for a similarly surprising draw against Singapore in Group 3, before an 81st-minute goal from substitute Toshiya Fujita handed the visitors a 2-1 victory.

In Colombo, Saudi Arabia, who have qualified for the last three World Cups, needed a second half goal to see off Group 8 minnows Sri Lanka while the job of former Japan coach Philippe Troussier was placed in further doubt when Qatar slumped to a 1-0 defeat in Group 1 in Jordan.

In other matches, China squeezed past neighbours Hong Kong 1-0 in Group 4, while Iran romped past Laos 7-0 in Group 1.

But it was the Maldives who had most to celebrate after their 0-0 draw with South Korea, who stand 120 places above the islanders on FIFA's latest world rankings.

Though South Korea remain favourites to reach final round qualifying from Group 4, which they lead by one point from Lebanon and Vietnam, the result will heap more pressure on Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho.

Coelho had already come under pressure to quit following defeats to Oman and Vietnam in Asian Cup qualifiers last year.

Brazilian legend Zico watched his Japanese side put in a patchy display away to Singapore in stifling heat and humidity.

The win extended Japan's lead at the top of Group 3 but the team looked a shadow of the unit that performed so memorably to reach the second round as co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup.

Japan wasted chance after chance until Naohiro Takahara finally broke the run of misses in the 34th minute when his deflected drive from outside the box beat Singapore keeper Hassan Sunny.

The wasted opportunities looked set to haunt the visitors as they began to wilt in the 29-degree-Celsius (80-degree-Fahrenheit) heat and Singaporean striker Indra Sahdan Daud scored in the 63rd minute.

Zico's decision to bring on fresh legs paid dividends with substitute Fujita scoring nine minutes from time.

Fujita pounced on a loose ball in front of goal after Hassan was unable to clear a cross.

Japan have now won their first two qualifiers but the unconvincing nature of both victories - Japan snuck through with a 1-0 win against Oman last month - will ensure Zico's position as coach remains under scrutiny.

Saudi Arabia needed a 53rd-minute strike by forward Ibrahim Al-Shahrani to give them a 1-0 win against Sri Lanka.

The win puts the Saudis in second place in Group 8 behind Turkmenistan who beat Indonesia 3-1 in Ashgabat.

Palestine surprisingly lead Group 2 after a 1-1 draw with Iraq in a match played on neutral territory in Doha.

The Palestinians, who thrashed Taiwan 8-0 in their opening fixture, battled back when Roberto Beshe hit a 71st minute strike to cancel out Razzaq Farhan's 20th minute headed opener.

In Amman, Troussier's Qatar side lost 1-0 to Jordan in the Gulf side's second defeat in Group 1 following their 3-1 loss against Iran.

Muayyad Salim hit the only goal in the 70th minute to move Jordan into second place behind Iran on goal difference.

In Sanaa, Thailand's veteran star Kiatisuk 'Zico' Senamuang kick-started his country's campaign when he scored one goal and created the other two in a 3-0 Group 5 win in Yemen.

Man-of-the-match Kiatisuk set up Sarayoot Chaikumdee and Nirut Surasiang for the first two goals before he got himself on the scoresheet three minutes from time.

The Thais are now one point behind the UAE who drew 0-0 against North Korea in Pyongyang.

Results from the 2006 World Cup Asian Zone qualifying matches on Wednesday: