Teenage midfielder Ki Sung-yung salvaged a draw for Republic of Korea in a dour World Cup qualifier against Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Shanghai last night, the fourth draw between the teams in four 2008 meetings.

Ki volleyed an equalizer after 68 minutes, four minutes after Hong Yong Jo had given North Korea the lead with a penalty.

It was a tight game on a neutral ground, although South Korea, missing Manchester United star Park Ji-sung, was on top for most of the 90 minutes.

Hong scored from the spot after South Korea captain Kim Nam-il fouled him in the 64th.

But the South Koreans responded quickly to secure a point via Ki's volley from the edge of the area.

North Korea now has four points from two matches and leads Group B in the fourth round of Asian qualifying. South Korea has one point from its opening match.

The last 10 Asian teams have been divided into two qualifying groups with four automatic spots at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on the line.

FIFA, football's governing body, moved the match from the North Korean capital Pyongyang to Shanghai after North Korea refused to play the anthem and fly the flag of its southern neighbor.

In Auckland, New Zealand, striker Shane Smeltz equaled a national record by scoring for the sixth straight game as New Zealand beat New Caledonia 3-0 in a World Cup Oceania qualifier yesterday.

New Zealand had already clinched top spot in the Oceania qualifying group by beating New Caledonia 3-1 in Noumea on the weekend.

That win had put New Zealand through to face the eventual fifth-placed team from ongoing Asian qualifiers, with the winner of that tie to get a place at South Africa 2010.

In another match yesterday, Vanuatu beat Fiji 2-1.

Smeltz netted his 10th and 11th goals from 21 international matches, extending a streak which has seen him score in all five of New Zealand's matches in the final round of the Oceania qualifiers.