minute rally saw Saudi Arabia overwhelm the UAE 2-1 in their World Cup qualifier and share the lead in Group B with North Korea at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Subait Khater put the host ahead midway of the first half. Abdo Atif scored the equalizer after the break and substitute Ahmed Al-Fraidi sealed the win for Saudi Arabia just five minutes after the equalizer. North Korea was held to a 1-1 draw in a highly charged encounter with arch-rival South Korea in Shanghai. After two matches, Saudi Arabia and North Korea have four points each. In Group A, Australia beat Uzbekistan 1-0 and Bahrain and Qatar drew 1-1. Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al-Johar fielded almost the same squad that drew 1-1 against Iran last Sunday. Only goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah replaced Mansour Al-Najae while Majed Al-Marshadi came instead of suspended Redha Tukar. The UAE boss Bruno Metsu advised his boys to press from the kickoff to push Saudis into defense and control the midfield. It affected the Saudis and they were unable to create any threat on their rival goal. The host struck in the 23rd minute when Subait Khater converted a corner kick directly to the right side of Saudi goalkeeper. The early goal gave the UAE the advantage in terms of ball possession while the first real threat for Saudi side was created in the 37th minute but UAE goalkeeper Majed Nasser managed to deny a header from striker Saad Al-Harthi. In the 44th minute, the UAE almost doubled the lead when Ismail Matar sent the ball to Faisal Khalil who kicked it wide. After the break, Al-Johar made some changes in his squad as he replaced Al-Harthi with Yasser Al-Qhatani and Mohammed Al-Shalhoub with Ahmed Al-Fraidi. Saudis had to wait till the 69th minute to see the team scoring the equalizer after midfielder Abdo Atif's shot from inside the box hit UAE defender Rashed Abdul Rahman and the ball deflected into goal. Five minutes later, Al-Fraidi put the Saudis ahead as he drove to the danger area of UAE and sent the ball to the left side of Majed Nasser. Bruno Metsu tried all his tricks but the stout defending of Saudi team nullified all efforts of the UAE strikers. The Saudi team will wait until November to play its third match against Korea Republic in Riyadh. __
