Some of Asia’s biggest names turned on the style on Matchdays Three and Four of the qualifying campaign, while several hat-tricks and some notable displays at the back were among the highlights of the double-headers.

As the AFC Asian Qualifiers now take a two-month break before returning in early June, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the players who caught the eye in the recent internationals.

Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

There were changes aplenty in the dugout as Korea Republic began life after Jurgen Klinsmann, but Son Heung-min remained the same on the pitch as he took his tally to five goals in four qualifying games – only Almoez Ali has more goals than the 31-year-old in the second round so far.

The captain scored as the Koreans were held 1-1 by Thailand in their third outing in Seoul and was then ruthless in the return fixture in Bangkok, scoring off a Lee Kang-in assist to all but confirm his side’s place in the next stage with a 3-0 win.

Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan)

Eldor Shomurodov’s AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ dreams were dashed by an injury, but the Uzbekistan captain returned to international action with two goals in two matches against Hong Kong, China to send Srecko Katanec’s side through to the next phase of the qualifiers.

Leading the White Wolves attack, the 28-year-old striker opened the scoring on both occasions with his 39th and 40th international goals and was unlucky not to add further to his tally as the Uzbeks matched the Islamic Republic of Iran on 10 points in Group E.

Craig Goodwin (Australia)

After missing Matchday Three with illness, Craig Goodwin delivered a masterclass that will live on in the memories of the Socceroos fans as Australia advanced with a 5-0 defeat of Lebanon in Canberra on Tuesday.

Starting with an assist for Kusini Yengi two minutes in, Goodwin’s pinpoint deliveries created a headache for the defenders throughout as the winger also forced an own goal for the Socceroos’ second before capping off his display with two goals – the first of which was a sensational strike worthy of any highlights reel.

Sultan Adil (United Arab Emirates)

Picked ahead of the United Arab Emirates’ record goalscorer Ali Mabkhout, 19-year-old Sultan Adil is repaying the faith shown in him by head coach Paulo Bento as he brought his goalscoring boots to the double-header against Yemen after his impressive AFC Asian Cup campaign.

Adil came up with a towering header in the 72nd minute to win the game for the UAE on Matchday Three and sealed a 3-0 victory five days later to make it four goals in his last four outings for the Whites.