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North Korea qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1966 after holding Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw in Riyadh.

The visitors finished the game with 10 men and defending against a wave of attacks but held firm to join South Korea, Australia and Japan as Asia's four automatic qualifiers for South Africa 2010.

North Korea finished runners-up to South Korea in Group Two while Australia and Japan went through from Group One.

Third-placed Saudi Arabia, bidding for their fifth successive appearance in the finals, advanced to the Asian play-offs with Bahrain, third in Group One.

The two teams meet over two legs in September with the winners progressing to a home and away play-off against Oceania winners New Zealand in October and November for a place in South Africa.

With Saudi Arabia needing to win to gain an automatic place, the hosts made all the early running at the King Fahd International Stadium.

They kept North Korea under pressure with a series of shots at goal but were unable to capitalise on their chances, even when the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Kim Yong-jun was sent off in stoppage time.

North Korea's only previous appearance at the World Cup was in 1966 in England when they reached the quarter-finals.

Bahrain defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 at the National Stadium in Manama to secure their meeting with Saudi Arabia in the World Cup Asian play-offs.

Bahrain only needed a draw to make the playoffs but grabbed all three points after Mahmood Abdulrahman scored from a stunning free kick in the 74th minute. The hosts then had Abdulla Marzooq sent off four minutes later but held on for victory.

Bahrain finished third in Group One behind Australia and Japan, who had already qualified automatically for South Africa 2010.

Bahrain next play Saudi Arabia, the third-placed team from Group Two, over two legs in September after their 0-0 draw with North Korea.

The winners advance to a home and away playoff against Oceania winners New Zealand in October and November for a place in South Africa.

Bahrain, one of the most improved sides in Asia in recent times, have never qualified for the World Cup finals but came close four years ago.

They won the Asian play-off against Uzbekistan before being beaten by Trinidad and Tobago in an inter-confederation play-off.

Australia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a second-half double from Tim Cahill to finish top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group One.

Both countries had already reached the 2010 finals in South Africa with their last qualifier, played out by second-string teams, deciding who would take the plaudits in the group.

Cahill struck just before the hour and in the 77th minute after Japan's Brazilian-born defender Tulio ended Australia's seven-game streak of clean sheets with a header in the 40th.

Cahill's brace will have brought back painful memories for Japan fans who saw the attacking midfielder score two late goals to help Australia clinch a rousing 3-1 comeback victory in their group match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Elsewhere South Korea and Iran drew 1-1, dashing the Middle Eastern team's hopes of a place in next year's finals.

Several Iran players wore green armbands early in the match in what appeared to be a show of support for defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi while their fans unfurled banners at the stadium reading: "Free Iran".

Iran went ahead through an own goal in the 51st minute from South Korea's Kim Dong-jin, who was tightly marking Iran's Masoud Shojaei. Kim was hit by a cross and the ball slid past helpless goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae.

South Korea equalised through a masterful goal from Park Ji-sung. The Manchester United midfielder took a short pass from Lee Keun-ho, beat a defender and tucked a left-foot shot just under the bar in the 81st minute.

Reuters