11.06.2015 13:39 h

Guam claim first World Cup qualifier win

Minnows Guam secured their first-ever victory in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Thursday, when an early own goal gave the tiny Pacific island side a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan.

clinched their triumph when Turkmenistan defender Serdar Annaorazov headed the ball into his net after 14 minutes to the delight of the crowd at the GFA National Training Center, in their first World Cup qualifier at home.

The surprise win sent Guam, a United States island territory in the Western Pacific with a population of less than 200,000, to the top of Group D in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

India meet Oman in Bangalore later on Thursday in another Group D game while group favourites Iran visit Turkmenistan for their opening match next Tuesday.

The result was a huge improvement from Guam's last outing in the World Cup qualifiers in 2000 when they were beaten 19-0 by Iran and 16-0 by Tajikistan in centralised matches in Tabriz, Iran.

They host India in their second Group D game next Tuesday.

A total of 14 matches are being played throughout Asia on Thursday in matches that serve as qualifiers for both the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.