Doha: Qatar recorded their biggest ever victory in international football on Thursday, thrashing Bhutan 15-0 in an AFC Group C World Cup qualifier in Doha.

The result smashed Qatar’s previous high of 8-0, which they had recorded against both Afghanistan and Lebanon in the 1980s.

The victory also maintained their 100 per cent start to their World Cup campaign after two matches and pushed Qatar into second place in Group C behind Hong Kong, who they meet in a crucial fixture next Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t have expected we would score 15,” admitted Qatar coach Jose Daniel Carreno afterwards.

“The first goal was the most important. After three goals we were trying to score the highest number of goals because they will be important at the end of the group.”

Forwards Mohammad Muntari and Ali Assad each scored hat-tricks, with others chipping in including right-back Mohammad Musa, who bagged two goals.

Qatar could even afford to miss a soft penalty awarded in the 62nd minute and several easy chances.

The only consolation for Bhutan was that this was not their record defeat. They were once beaten 20-0 by Kuwait.

“We have to train, train, train,” said a surprisingly upbeat Bhutan coach Norio Tsukitate afterwards. “I think we will improve, I hope we will improve.”

To round off a perfect evening for Qatar, the two teams above them in the group at the start of play, Hong Kong and China, shared a 0-0 draw in Beijing earlier on Thursday.

“This is in our favour because the two teams have lost two points,” said Carreno. “I think China is going to suffer from losing the points even more.”

The match, somewhat ironically given Qatar will host the World Cup finals after Russia, was watched by a crowd at the Al Sadd Stadium of 2,022.

Qatar are aiming to avoid becoming the first nation since Italy in 1934 to host the World Cup without ever having played in the finals.

Elsewhere, Kuwait eased to a 9-0 win over Myanmar, South Korea netted eight against lowly Laos and Asian champions Australia battered Bangladesh 5-0 as the continent’s elite made light work of the region’s outsiders.

Japan again looked disjointed in attack but still had far too much quality for an outclassed Cambodia in a 3-0 victory in Saitama, while former Asian champions Iraq kicked off their Group F campaign by downing Taiwan 5-1 in Tehran.

Only Hong Kong bucked the trend, holding China to a surprise goalless draw in a politically charged encounter in Shenzhen, played out in front of a heavy police presence, to stay top and unbeaten after three games in Group C.

New Tottenham Hotspur signing Son Heung-min struck a hat-trick as perennial qualifiers South Korea claimed the biggest win in the east of the sprawling continent against Laos.

Australia, who beat the Koreans to win the Asian Cup in January, also had a straightforward night as they eased to victory over Bangladesh in Perth despite missing a number of regular starters.

The Socceroos were 4-0 up within 29 minutes against a side who barely had a touch of the ball, while home goalkeeper Adam Federici was virtually redundant.

Japan enjoyed similar dominance but profligacy in front of goal meant they could only record a modest three-goal victory over Cambodia to earn a first Group E triumph after being held by Singapore in their opener.

Shinji Kagawa recovered after a terrible miss from two metres out with the goal gaping to round off the scoring in the 60th minute of a game played almost entirely in Cambodia’s half.

Udinese full-back Ali Adnan added to his burgeoning reputation with a brilliant cut back and blasted finish as Iraq, buoyed by goalkeeper Noor Sabri coming out of retirement, proved too strong for Taiwan.

Guam’s fairytale start to the competition came to a shuddering halt when they were thrashed 6-0 by Iran in Tehran in the later matches played in West Asia.

Singapore’s unbeaten run also ended when they were edged 1-0 by Syria in a Group E match played in Oman.

Saudi Arabia ensured the trend of big wins continued by crushing East Timor 7-0, with Mohammad Al Sahlawi bagging a treble.