South Korea recorded a creditable 1-1 draw away to Iran on Wednesday, leaving them in pole position for the race to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals tournament in South Africa at the half-way point of qualification.

Manchester United star Park Ji-sung netted for Huh Jung-moo's side eight minutes from time in Tehran to cancel out Javad Nekounam's 59th minute opener and move South Korea on to the eight point mark with a record of two wins and two draws from the four Group B qualifiers so far. The draw stretches South Korea's current unbeaten streak to eighteen matches and with three of the four remaining qualifiers to be played at home, they are in a strong position to qualify for their seventh consecutive Finals.

In Pyeongyang, April 25 midfielder Mun In-guk netted the only goal of the match as North Korea saw off the challenge of Saudi Arabia and moved his unfancied country into second place in the overall standings, a point clear of Iran and three ahead of the Saudis.

North Korea's next match is on March 28th at home to United Arab Emirates before they make the short journey down to Seoul to face South Korea in what is the South's next match on April 1st. The top two teams qualify for the 2010 Finals outright, whilst the third-placed side in Group B plays off with the third-placed side from Group A for the right to face New Zealand in a home-and-away qualification playoff.

Group B Standings (as of February 11th, four games played)
South Korea 8pts (+5)
North Korea 7pts (+1)
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Iran 6pts (+1)
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Saudi Arabia 4pts (-2)
UAE 1pt (-5)