The game had been in doubt after the Palestine squad failed to show up in the Lion City in time for the pre-match managers' meeting on Saturday, and there was still no sign of them at 5:00pm local time on Sunday, when the game was scheduled to kick off.

With only the Singapore team on the pitch at the Singapore National Stadium, Chinese referee Sun Baojie blew his whistle to start the match but immediately blew again to signal its abandonment.

Having posted a 4-0 win in the first leg in Doha, Asean champions Singapore are likely to be awarded the tie by default and should advance to next month's second round.

Hong Kong and Tajikistan also progressed with decisive home wins on Sunday.

Having edged Timor Leste 3-2 in Bali last weekend, Hong Kong trounced the south east Asian side 8-1 in the SAR to advance 11-3 on aggregate.

Chan Siu Ki scored a hat-trick, Cheng Siu Wai added two goals and Lo Kwan Yee, Cheung Sai Ho and substitute Lam Ka Wai netted one each for the hosts, who led 2-0 at half-time, while Emilion Da Silva scored Timor Leste's consolation goal.

Tajikistan hammered Bangladesh 5-0 at the Central Stadium in Dushanbe to complete a 6-1 aggregate triumph.

Due to their higher seedings for the World Cup qualifiers, China, Oman and Uzbekistan will progress directly to the third round after winning their first-round ties on Sunday.

China progressed easily after first-half goals by Wu Weian, Liu Jian, Zheng Bin and Zhang Yaokun lifted them a 4-0 win, and an 11-0 aggregate victory, over Myanmar.

Uzbekistan also secured an 11-0 aggregate win as they defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0 at Chungshan Stadium thanks to late goals by Islom Inomov and Ilhomjon Suyunov.

Oman advanced after winning 2-0 at Dashrath Stadium in Katmandu for a 4-0 aggregate triumph against Nepal.