Turkmen national football team thrashed Hong Kong in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian zone qualifiers. Mekan Nasyrov, Vladimir Bayramov and Arif Mirzoyev scored to make it 3:0, Hong Kong players’ attacks were vain.

This means that Turkmenistan joins 19 other national teams in the third round, where Rahim Kurbanmamedov’s squad will have to face more serious rivals. 20 teams will be divided into four groups. The draw will take place in Durban, South Africa, on the 25th of November.

Turkmenistan will be in the last Pot D, which means it will have to play against more highly-ranked Asian teams.

Only one more Central Asian team has reached the same level: after winning in a two-match duel with Taiwan, Uzbekistan got its berth in the third round directly from the first one due to the high ranking.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan national teams are already out of competition.

In the first round, Turkmenistan won in both matches with Cambodia, 1:0 in Phnom Pehn and 4:1 in Ashgabat.

There is a 20 per cent probability that Australia will become one of the Turkmen rivals in the third round. If it happens, it will be the first time when the Turkmen national team plays with a team that has reached the World Cup Finals playoff stage.

Turkmenistan.ru exaggerated this happy news by reporting that our team has joined group stage of World Cup 2010. It is referring to CISsoccer.com which had properly stated this event as Asian zone qualifier.