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NORTH KOREA BEATS SAUDI ARABIA TO QUALIFY FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — North Korea qualified for its first World Cup finals since 1966 when it drew with Saudi Arabia 0-0 on Wednesday.

North Korea joined Australia, Japan and South Korea as Asia's automatic qualifiers.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the third-place finishers in the two Asian groups, will meet in playoffs on Sept. 5 and 9. The winner of that will then face Oceania champion New Zealand in October and November for a berth in next year's World Cup in South Africa.

North Korea ended its campaign second to South Korea in Group 2, edging the Saudis on goal difference.

South Korea finished with 16 points from eight games, North Korea 12, Saudi Arabia 12, Iran 11 and United Arab Emirates 1.

North Korea knew a draw would be good enough to qualify, and concentrated on defence to ensure a stalemate at King Fahd International Stadium.

Goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk produced fine saves against a Saudi side under pressure to win in front of a huge home crowd and without the Ateef brothers, injured Abdoh and suspended Ahmed.

The Saudis dominated, while North Korea was content to be restricted to counterattacks.

Yasser Al Kahtani sent a weak shot straight to Ri in the 17th minute, and moments later Mohammed Noor's free kick sailed just past the post.

Ri had to make a good save on Naif Hazazi's bicycle kick in the 30th.

North Korea produced its best chance in the 36th, but Jong Tae Se's shot was punched away by Saudi custodian Waleed Ali.

Seconds into the second half, Ri parried an aerial shot from Al Kahtani.

Substitute Kim Yong Jun was sent off in the fifth and final minute of second-half injury time for a challenge on substitute Mohammed Al Shlhoub.