Uzbekistan beat Bahrain in WC qualifying play-off

Tashkent:

Uzbekistan beat Bahrain by a single goal in the first leg of the Asian World Cup qualifying play-off in Tashkent on Saturday. Skipper Mirdjalal Kasimov scored the winning goal in the 12th minute. The second leg of the play-off will be played on September 7 in Bahrain. The winner will then face the fourth place team in CONCACAF for a spot at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Meanwhile, England put up another mediocre performance on Saturday night against neighbours Wales in a World Cup qualifier at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The English managed to win the game 1-0 and play Northern Ireland on Wednesday in Belfast. (With PTI inputs)