Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, March 23

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday: SOCCER World Cup 2018 qualifiers Asian World Cup qualifying China sink South Korea BEIJING - China beat South Korea 1-0 on Thursday to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup with only their second ever win over their Asian rivals. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-CHN-KOR/, pix, moved, 300 words) SYDNEY - Japan, Australia and South Korea are all in action seeking the four automatic tickets to the 2018 World Cup finals up for grabs in the third round of Asian qualifying, while ambitious China, former Asian champions Iraq and 2022 hosts Qatar battle to keep their slim hopes alive. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ASIA/ (WRAPUP 1), expect by 1700 GMT/3 PM ET, by Michael Church, 500 words) South America qualifying Brazil face tough test of their winning form in Uruguay MONTEVIDEO - Brazil, who have notched seven successive wins but lost exciting striker Gabriel Jesus to injury, face the toughest test of their brilliant form away to Uruguay in a clash of the top two teams in the South American group. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-URY-BRA/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 400 words) Argentina need points after slipping to fifth in standings BUENOS AIRES - Argentina must beat Chile at home to leapfrog them into the four qualifying berths in the South American group before the daunting trip to La Paz five days later to face Bolivia at high altitude. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ARG-CHL/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 400 words) We'll have all the latest news ahead of this week's other international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers (SOCCER-WORLDCUP/ and SOCCER-FRIENDLY/) GOLF PGA Tour: WGC-Dell Match Play, Austin (to 26) McIlroy, Spieth try to rebound from opening loses Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth try to recover from opening-round losses when they face Gary Woodland and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda, respectively, while world number one Dustin Johnson faces German Martin Kaymer in round two action at the Austin Country Club. (GOLF-MATCHPLAY/ (TV), expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, 400 words) PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open (to 26) Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell will try to take advantage of a weaker field in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Open and get back to his winning ways at Coco Beach in Rio Grande where world number 73 Wesley Bryan is the top-ranked player in the field. (GOLF-PUERTORICO/, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 200 words) TENNIS ATP/WTA: Miami Open (to 2) Pliskova and Muguruza eye third-round berths Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova faces Madison Brengle, French Open champion Garbine Muguruza battles Christina McHale and fourth seed Dominika Cibulkova plays Paraguayan qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg in second round action at the Miami Open. (TENNIS-MIAMI/WOMEN (TV), expect from 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words) CYCLING Tour of Catalonia BARCELONA - Tejay van Garderen leads the Tour of Catalonia heading into stage four, a 194.3 kilometre race from Llivia to Igualada. (CYCLING-CATALONIA/, expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, 200 words) MOTOR RACING Formula One Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (26) Drivers hit the track for first practice of season MELBOURNE - Drivers put their cars through their paces at the first free practice sessions in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park (MOTOR-F1-AUSTRALIA/ (PIX), expect by 0200 GMT/10:PM ET, by Ian Ransom, 300 words) NHL Caps face division rival Blue Jackets The Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets battle in a clash of teams fighting for top spot in the Metropolitan division while Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers visit the Colorado Avalanche in two of the 12 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)