ABU DHABI, 3 December 2003 — Saudi Arabia and Mexico played out a 1-1 draw in their Group E match of the FIFA World Youth Championship in Al-Ain yesterday.

Saudi Arabia started well and their efforts paid dividends when striker Naji Majrasghi put the Saudis ahead in 15 minutes but Fausto Pinto equalized on the half-hour mark.

With this match Saudi Arabia and Mexico are on a point apiece.

Colombia beat Japan 4-1 in Dubai to move joint top of Group D with Egypt who earlier defeated England to leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

In Group F, Germany were too strong for the USA, running out eventual 3-1 winners, and Paraguay shocked South Korea 1-0. Ireland and Cote d’Ivoire share top spot in Group E after a 2-2 draw.

Japan had been expected to build on their opening defeat of England but instead found themselves 2-0 down by half-time.

Sloppy Japanese defending helped Colombian captain Jose de la Cuesta put the South Americans ahead from six meters out after 36 minutes and Jaime Castrillon made it 2-0 six minutes later when the Japanese again failed to clear their lines.

Abel Aguilar made it 3-0 on 65 minutes before Tatsuya Yazawa pulled one back for Japan. Just before the end Avimiled Rivas pulled off an astonishing dummy, pretending to miskick the ball, before making it 4-1.

Earlier, Egypt left England’s World Cup hopes in tatters with a 1-0 win. Emad Motab got the all-important goal for Egypt 17 minutes from the end after Michael Chopra had missed several opportunities to put the English in front. Egypt and Colombia now top the group on four points, one clear of Japan, while England remain the only country without a point.

In Group F, South Korea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Abu Dhabi. Gilberto Velazquez got the only goal of the game after 14 minutes.

Earlier, Germany bounced back from a 2-0 defeat by South Korea in their opening match, scoring three second-half goals from Robert Huth, Piotr Trochowski and Sebastian Kneissl to claim a 3-1 victory over the USA. Zak Whitebread got a consolation goal for the Americans 13 minutes from the end.

Meanwhile in Group E, Stephen Elliot scored his third goal in two games as Ireland and Cote d’Ivoire drew 2-2 in Al Ain. Arouna Koune gave the Africans the lead from the penalty spot before Stephen Paisley leveled matters 10 minutes before half-time.

Ireland and Cote d’Ivoire top the group on four points.