Seoul (AFP) - Hong Jeong Ho's early goal gave South Korea a 1-0 win over war-torn Syria on Tuesday to put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

China-based Hong struck in the fourth minute but it was an unconvincing margin of victory for the South Koreans, who were upset 0-1 by China last week.

Uli Stielike's men remain well placed in Group A and are second with three games to go.

The top two teams qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Russia.