S. Korea tie 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifier

(ATTN: ADDS coach's comments in 4th para)
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea tied 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in a 2010 World
Cup qualifier in Seoul on Wednesday, meaning North Korea must defeat the Middle
East powerhouse in an away game next week to grab a berth to South Africa.
South Korea played an exciting game with good moves in the qualifying match at
the Seoul World Cup Stadium, but failed to score a goal.
Striker Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Park Chu-young of AS Monaco used
great positioning and passes to open clear chances, but were blocked by Saudi's
goalie Waleed Ali's super saves.
"I wanted to win at home, but we couldn't make it," South Korean coach Huh
Jung-moo told reporters after the game. "Our players had good game, but failed to
capitalize on their opportunities."
South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Riyadh in their first meeting in
November last year, shaking off a jinx that had prevented them from clinching a
victory on the enemy's turf for decades.
The unbeaten South Korean squad has already secured a berth to the World Cup
finals, while both North Korea and Saudi Arabia have garnered 11 points each.
North Korea have to clinch a victory over Saudi Arabia to finish in second place
of Group B and advance to the World Cup finals.
The last round of Asian qualifying matches between North Korea and Saudi Arabia
is slated for next Wednesday in Riyadh. North Korea have not appeared on the
World Cup stage since the 1966 England World Cup, where they finished in
quarterfinals.
South Korea have already secured their seventh consecutive berth in the world's
biggest football event after beating the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Saturday.
Their last qualifier match will be against Iran next Wednesday in Seoul.
Meanwhile, Australia and Japan advanced to the World Cup finals, coming in as
first and runner-up of Group A in Asia.
Only the top two nations from each group go directly to South Africa a year
later, while the two third-placed teams of each group will go to playoffs.
brk@yna.co.kr
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