JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia came back from a goal down to beat UAE 2-1 in the second round of Group B matches yesterday in the 2010 World Cup Asian qualifying in Abu Dhabi.
It was the first leg match in the home-and-away series between the sides.
The win boosted Saudi hopes of clinching one of two automatic World Cup berths from the group while the loss left UAE, still without a point after two matches, facing an early elimination from the competition.
UAE took an early 1-0 lead via a 22nd minute strike from Sbeet Khater who converted from a corner kick. The first half ended with the Saudis unable to score the equalizer. The second half was a different story. Determined to get the away win, the Kingdom blasted in two goals in a space of four minutes. Abdul Utaif equalized for the Saudi team with a nice shot inside the penalty box in the 69th minute and Ahmad Al-Fareedi rifled home another goal from the penalty area in the 73rd minute.
The successive goals apparently broke the collective UAE backs and Saudi Arabia worked efficiently till the final whistle to protect its lead.
The Kingdom, which drew its first match with Iran 1-1 in this final stage of qualifying, is now tied for the lead with North Korea on 4 points each in the group, after North Korea drew with South Korea 1-1 yesterday.
