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.
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.
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