BANGKOK - QATAR and surprise package North Korea clinched early wins to move to the top of the two Asian groups in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

Qatar got off to a flying start in Group One when they pounded Asia's in-form team Uzbekistan 3-0, while North Korea snatched the Group Two lead after beating the struggling United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2-1 in Abu Dhabi.

Japan had looked set for an emphatic win over Bahrain to get their stuttering campaign in order but conceded two goals in an embarrassing three-minute meltdown for a jittery 3-2 win.

Qatar's campaign has been under a cloud after they fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round but they showed no signs of concern in Doha, putting three goals past the Uzbeks, the top scorers in the competition.

Qatar are awaiting a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over whether they breached competition rules by fielding naturalised Brazilian Emerson in a match in March.

North Korea put in a solid defensive display against the UAE and went ahead on 70 minutes when Basheer Saeed put the ball in his own net. -- REUTERS