Kuwait and Saudi battle to stalemate

Kuwaiti Faraj Lahib(R) vies with Saudi Arabia's Ahmad al-Bahri during their World Cup 2006 Asian zone Group A qualifying match in Kuwait City. The game ended in a 0-0 draw

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia battled to a 0-0 stalemate leaving South Korea in the Group A driving seat in the race for the 2006 World Cup finals.

Both sides went into the match buoyed by impressive wins last weekend with the Saudis, who are bidding to qualify for their fourth successive World Cup finals, beating the Koreans 2-0 and Kuwait seeing off Uzbekistan 2-1.

But on Wednesday, both sides were left to rue their poor finishing as the result left South Korea, who beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in Seoul earlier in the day, on top of the group with six points from three games.

The Saudis stay second with five points, one ahead of Kuwait.

Hamad Al-Montashari could have given the Saudis an early lead with a fourth minute header that went wide, while Kuwaits Walied Ali forced a good save out of Saudi goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid with a low drive.

Kuwait substitute Khaled Khalaf squandered a 75th-minute chance to win the game while Manaf Abushgeer also wasted a glorious opportunity with just two minutes left.