(PTI): North Korea regains confidence in its quest onward to the 2010 World Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-0 at home.

In a Group B match on Saturday, the Koreans managed to beat the Arabs at Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang.

Nam-chol and Mun In-guk’s goals pushed the Koreans two points clear of arch-rival South Korea and with 10 points from five matches to the top of the table. North Korea is scheduled to travel to Seoul next Wednesday to meet South Korea which has eight points and one game in hand.

Later on Saturday, two Asian heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia face each other in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium with the Iranians on six points and the Saudis on four.

Iran and Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 in the first leg of the final round of qualification matches for the 2010 World Cup in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.