MANAMA, (Reuters) – A superb display by goalkeeper Waleed Adbullah enabled Saudi Arabia to hold on for a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Asian playoff with Bahrain at the Manama national stadium on Saturday. Waleed pulled off a series of desperate saves to leave the first leg all square before the teams travel to Riyadh for Wednesday’s return match.

The winners advance to a two-legged playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand in October and November.

Bahrain created the better scoring chances in the match but could not find a way past Waleed, who produced two acrobatic saves from Sayed Mohamed Adnan and Abdulla Omar in the first half then twice denied substitute Jaycee John in stoppage time.

“I don’t know whether the result is good for us or not. We wasted a lot of chances and we were not fortunate,” Bahrain coach Milan Macala told reporters.

Saudi Arabia’s best opportunity came in the first half when striker Yasser Al Qahtani was brought down in the box but their appeals for a penalty were waved away.

“It was a positive game from both teams who tried to score,” Saudi Arabia coach Jose Peseiro said.

“We didn’t play with a defensive formation and we should have been awarded a spot kick in the first half.

Four teams from Asia — Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea — have already qualified for next year’s World Cup.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were given a second chance to progress to the finals in South Africa after finishing third in their groups.

Bahrain are bidding to qualify for the first time after losing a playoff to Trinidad and Tobago four years ago while their Gulf neighbours are striving for a fifth consecutive appearance.