The Saudis, bidding to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup finals, retain their lead at the top of the group with 11 points to nine for Iran.

In other matches, Qatar and Uzbekistan fought out a 2-2 draw in their Group B match in Doha - a result which was good news only for group leaders China.

The result means Qatar remain in second spot, four points behind China who had beaten the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Thursday, while the Uzbeks move up to third.

Iraq kept up the pressure in Group A by beating Bahrain 1-0 in Baghdad, leaving them two points behind Iran.

Only the winners of the two Asian groups automatically qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, while the group runners-up will play off on a home-and-away basis with the winner qualifying to play the runners-up from the European zone Group Two, either the Republic of Ireland or Portugal.

In Riyadh, the Saudis had dominated the match, taking the lead in the 20th minute through a clear penalty which was converted by Abdallah Waked.

The goal put the Saudis in charge and Iran, guided by Yugoslav coach Miroslav Blazevic, were pinned back in their half by repeated Saudi attacks.

But Iran's Ali Karimi came close to equalizing in the 37th minute but his firm header went over the crossbar.

Veteran Iranian striker Ali Daei superbly headed his side level just three minutes before half-time.

In the second half, the Saudis added fresh impetus with the introduction of Hassan Yami, whose lob put the hosts back in the lead almost on the hour.

The Saudis then created at least three clear-cut goalscoring chances, but Iran's goalkeeper Ibrahim Mirzapour was equal to the challenge, beating out chances for Iranian playmaker Sami Jaber and another from Yami.

Against the run of play, a glaring mistake by the Saudi defence allowed Sirous Dinmohammadi to equalize after Saudi defenders Ahmed Khalil and Mohamed Nour had failed to clear a shot from Karim Bagheri.

Saudi Arabia are scheduled to play away against Iraq in their next match on October 5, while Iran host Thailand on the same day.

The result in Doha meant that if China beat bottom team Oman in Shenyang next Sunday, then they will confirm their place in the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.

Qatar took the lead against Uzbekistan through Mohamed al Enazi in the ninth minute when he shot past goalkeeper Alexander Poliakov after good approach work by Abdulrahman Nasser al Obaidly and Mubarak Mustafa.

However, the Uzbekis leveled the score on the stroke of half-time through skipper Mirabjalal Kasimov after two previous attempts had come back off the woodwork.

Two minutes into the second period, Uzbekistan took the lead. Adidkohar Marisaliev set up Nikolai Shirashoe who made no mistake with a thunderous 20-yard shot.

Qatar poured forward looking for the equalizer and it arrived just a minute before the end of the match when Ahmed Khalifa scored from a long distance free kick.

The Gulf side, who have never made it to the World Cup finals, almost snatched victory in injury time at the end of the game but al Enazi saw his close ranger header come back off the post.

On Thursday, China moved closer to their maiden appearance at the World Cup when a 43rd minute goal from Qi Hong gave them victory in Abu Dhabi.

(Eastday.com 09/29/2001)