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N Korea end 44-year World Cup wait

Spain’s David Villa, center, heads the ball into the goal past Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid, left, during their Confederations Cup Group A match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

North Korea will play in their first World Cup for 44 years after winning the point they needed to qualify for next year’s finals in South Africa.

The North Koreans held firm for a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Wednesday to finish second in Group Two and join winners South Korea as automatic qualifiers.

It will be the first time both Koreas will be part of soccer’s showpiece and the North’s first tilt at the World Cup since their trailblazing quarter-final appearance at the 1966 tournament in England.

In contrast to celebrations in Pyongyang, there was gloom in Iran as they blew their qualification chance after a 1-1 draw in their must-win match in Seoul.

Saudi Arabia must now beat Bahrain in an Asian third-place playoff and then Oceania champions New Zealand if they are to reach their fifth consecutive World Cup finals next year.

Bahrain qualified for September’s Asian playoff with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Manama to finish third behind Australia and Japan in Group One.

North Korean players throw their coach, Kim Jong-hun, in the air as they celebrate after qualifying for the 2010 World Cup following their Asian zone Group Two soccer match against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

The Socceroos, boosted by a brace of goals from Tim Cahill, came from behind to overhaul Japan 2-1 in Melbourne to finish unbeaten and top the group by five points.

But North Korea dominated the headlines in the final round of Asian qualifying with their unyielding defensive performance.

The Saudis, needing to take all three points to leapfrog North Korea into the second automatic qualifying spot, attacked from the kickoff but the visitors held out for the draw.

“We battled to qualify for the World Cup finals,” coach Kim Jong-hun said. “It was so hot in Saudi Arabia after the long journey from Korea, but the belief in the ability of the players snatched the ticket to South Africa.”

“We focused on defending as we had come under a lot of pressure from the Saudis and I think our preparation for the game was one factor that earned the victory,” he said.

Saudi coach Jose Peseiro said he remained confident his side could still qualify through the back door as the fifth Asian team for South Africa.

“It was a game against a strong team who just came here to bag one point, and they did. I think it is a historical moment for the Koreans,” Peseiro said.

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung killed off Iran’s World Cup hopes with a second-half equalizer to give South Korea a 1-1 draw in Seoul.

South Korea were already guaranteed to finish top of their group but the Iranians, with six of the team wearing green wrist bands to symbolize their support for defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, will not be going to their third World Cup next year.

In Group One, second-half substitute Mahmood Abdulrahman struck a thunderous free-kick in the 74th minute to clinch victory for Bahrain over the Uzbeks to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Tim Cahill popped up for his match-winning brace against Japan after Australia had conceded their first goal in eight qualifiers.

Cahill scored in the 59th and 76th minutes to continue his “lucky charm” effect on the Socceroos and conjure memories of his late double when Australia came from behind to beat Japan 3-1 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.



■CONFEDERATIONS CUP

AFP, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Title favorites Spain reached the Confederations Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, and hosts South Africa edged closer to joining them.

Spain achieved a world ­record-equaling 14th consecutive victory by an unexpectedly narrow 1-0 margin over gallant Iraq with David Villa heading the winner nine minutes into the second half.

And Serbia-based Bernard Parker was the two-goal hero as South Africa outplayed New Zealand and wasted numerous chances before settling for a 2-0 victory in the 2010 World Cup dress rehearsal.

Spain have six points, South Africa four, Iraq one and although pointless New Zealand are out of contention for the knockout phase, they could play a decisive role in determining the second Group A semi-finalist.

South Africa have the much harder final mini-league task against Spain in Bloemfontein tomorrow, while Iraq tackle New Zealand at the same time in Johannesburg, where the tournament end next Sunday.

If the host nation can exceed expectations and dodge defeat against the European champions they will advance, but a home loss coupled with an Iraqi victory would bring goal difference into play.

Coach Bora Milutinovic was true to his word as Iraq put 10 men behind the ball and played for a draw from the kick-off at Vodacom Stadium in Bloemfontein. The policy worked remarkably well against a team showing four changes from that which overwhelmed New Zealand 5-0 last Sunday until a glancing Villa header off a Joan Capedevila cross gave impressive Mohammed Kassid no chance.

But the goal avalanche from a team unbeaten in 34 internationals since November 2006 never materialized and Iraq even ventured forward a few times in the closing stages without seriously threatening to equalize.

“It was a dream for my players to play against Spain and to put up that sort of performance really makes me proud. They played very intelligently. I’m very, very happy for Iraq,” widely traveled Serb Milutinovic said.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque also praised the Asian champions: “I congratulate Iraq for the way they played. They had a lot of dignity and made it very hard.”

After a goalless draw with Iraq, South Africa had to triumph in the northwestern mining town of Rustenburg and arch-predator Parker eased the pressure on Brazil-born coach Joel Santana.

“I’d like to thank my coach, who showed a lot of faith in me by starting me for this game. I liked the way we played, full of confidence,” the FIFA man of the match said.

Bafana Bafana also had two goals disallowed for offside, failed to convert several good scoring chances and were thwarted by New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss on other occasions in a one-sided encounter.

Parker broke the deadlock midway through the first half by connecting with a Tsepo Masilela cross and his shot took deflections off a leg of Andy Boyens and a hand of Moss en route to the net.

The second goal was another Masilela-Parker duet with the former crossing and the latter flicking the ball across Moss into the far corner — a cue for the 35,000-plus Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace crowd to erupt.

World Cup Asian qualifying results
Final standings on Wednesday:
Group One

* Qualified for the 2010 World Cup.
** Qualified for a two-legged play-off, with the winners of that tie playing New Zealand for a place at the 2010 World Cup.
Source: AP