HONG KONG, March 26: China held Australia and the two Koreas also fought to a goalless draw as Asian World Cup qualifying stepped up a gear on Wednesday.

China’s Shao Jiayi had a last-gasp penalty saved and South Korea were frustrated by the North’s stubborn defence as some of Asia’s top teams failed to find the net.

Group 1 favourites Australia remain provisionally top of the “Group of Death” with Asian champions Iraq playing Qatar later in the second round of matches Wednesday. South Korea stay ahead of the North in Group 3 on goal difference, with both in line to qualify ahead of Turkmenistan and Jordan, who are another later kick-off.

Japan, Asia’s top-ranked team, were set to play in Bahrain while Iran take their bid for a fourth World Cup appearance to Kuwait. Thailand were beaten 1-0 by Oman as their hopes took a tumble.

Chinese midfielder Shao was distraught after scuffing his penalty in the dying minutes against Australia in front of 32,500 baying home fans in Kunming.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer dived low to his left in the 88th minute to block Shao’s shot as Australia escaped the tricky tie with a point.

“I must apologise to the team and the fans for that penalty kick,” Shao said.

“Because of me we did not win the game. We should have won the game but we didn’t because I missed the penalty kick. I really feel bad about this.”Australia should have been firm favourites but they had only two days to acclimatise to Kunming’s 1,900-metre (6,233-foot) altitude and a long injury list including Everton’s Tim Cahill and Celtic striker Scott McDonald.

Given the difficulties, coach Pim Verbeek was happy with the result, which maintained his unbeaten record and kept Australia on course for South Africa 2010. “We knew that this would be a difficult game, but our boys were well prepared,” said the Dutchman.

“The boys played very hard to get this result. Of course we came here to win because everyone likes to win games. But I have to admit, I can live with this result.”

Meanwhile, South Korea were kept out by stout North Korean defending as their much-anticipated showdown also ended in a goalless stalemate.

The South, despite fielding top stars such as Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung, failed to convert a series of chances in the Cold War clash, which was moved from Pyongyang to Shanghai in a row over flags and anthems.

Fulham’s Seol Ki-Hyeon, Cho Won-Hee and Park Chu-Young all went close for South Korea, while the North’s Jong Tae-Se, “Asia’s Wayne Rooney,” had a close-range shot deflected wide.

World governing body FIFA ordered the move to China after fiercely patriotic North Korean officials refused to let the South use their flag and anthem in Kim Il-Sung Stadium.

The two countries, separated by the world’s last Cold War frontier, are still yet to sign a peace treaty following the 1950-1953 war which divided the Korean peninsula.

The top two teams from each of five groups will reach the fourth and final Asian qualifying round for the 2010 tournament.

—AFP