2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Fourth Round

The fourth round of AFC matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification was played from 5 to 10 October 2017.[1]

Format

In the fourth round, the third-placed teams from the two third round groups competed in a two-legged home-and-away play-off.[2] The winners advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs against the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF fifth round.

The order of legs was pre-determined by the AFC, announced during the draw for the third round. The third-placed team from Group A would host the first leg, while the third-placed team from Group B would host the second leg.[3]

Qualified teams
Group
(3rd round)		 Third place
A  Syria
B  Australia

Matches
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Syria  2–3  Australia 1–1 1–2 (a.e.t.)
Syria 1–1 Australia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 2,150
Australia 2–1 (a.e.t.) Syria
 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)
Attendance: 42,136
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)[note 2]

Australia won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Goalscorers

There were 5 goals scored in 2 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

2 goals
1 goal

Notes
  1. Syria played their home match outside Syria due to security concerns from the Syrian Civil War.
  2. Irmatov was replaced by fourth official Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan) during extra time.

References
  1. "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2017" (PDF). AFC. 9 June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2017.
  2. "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". AFC. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
  3. "Draw Mechanics for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Asian Qualifiers". YouTube. 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Asian Play-off: MD1 (1st leg), 5 Oct 2017, A3 vs B3; MD2 (2nd leg), 10 Oct 2017, B3 vs A3. (Displayed in video at 1:40)
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