Shanghai Shenhua striker Kim Shin-wook scored four goals and Tottenham forward Son Heung-min added two as South Korea thrashed Sri Lanka 8-0 in a qualifier for the 2022 World Cup on Thursday.

Kim netted twice in each half while both of Son's goals came before the break, including a 45th-minute penalty. Hwang Hee-chan and Kwon Chang-hoon also scored for South Korea, which is seeking a 10th successive World Cup appearance.

It was South Korea's second straight win in qualifying, putting it top of Group H, ahead of the People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Jamie Maclaren scored a hat-trick in Australia's 5-0 thrashing of Nepal in Canberra.

The Socceroos missed several opportunities against their 161st-ranked visitors but maintained a tight defense and dominated possession through the match. Their opponents were flagging by half-time, with a dogged showing by keeper Kiran Chemjong avoiding a bigger blowout.

Melbourne City's Maclaren opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Chemjong lost his grip on a drive from the edge of the box. He doubled the lead in the 18th with a header off Rhyan Grant.

International debutant Harry Souttar followed five minutes later with his own nod into the goal. The visitors rallied in the second half but an own goal just before the hour added to their woes. Maclaren scored his third in the closing moments.

In Tehran, Karim Ansarifard scored four goals, while Sardar Azmoun netted three as Iran breezed past minnows Cambodia 14-0.

Mehdi Taremi and Mohammad Mohebi recorded a brace each, while Morteza Pouraliganji, Mohammad Kanani and Ahmad Nourollahi helped themselves with a goal each.

Between 4,000 and 4,500 women attended a football match freely for the first time in decades, after FIFA threatened to suspend Iran over its controversial stadium restrictions.

Elated female fans wore the national green, white and red flag around their shoulders and over their hair as they streamed into a tiny section of Tehran's Azadi Stadium.

Some donned sporty hats over their headscarves, while others painted their faces with the colors of the flag.

World governing body FIFA feted Thursday's match as "a very positive step forward."

"FIFA now looks more than ever towards a future when ALL girls and women wishing to attend football matches in... Iran will be free to do so, and in a safe environment," it said.

"There can be no stopping or turning back now."

In Dhaka, meanwhile, Yusuf Abdurisag and Karim Boudiaf were on target in each half as 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar edged Bangladesh, while Oman eased past Afghanistan 3-0 in Seeb with Abdul Aziaz al-Muqabli grabbing a double.

Elsewhere, Japan triumphed 6-0 against Mongolia, Saudi Arabia defeated Singapore 3-0, the UAE thrashed Indonesia 5-0, Uzbekistan drubbed Yemen 5-0 and Iraq prevailed over Hong Kong of China 2-0.