South Korea and Saudi Arabia draw after power failure

JAKARTA, July 11 (Reuters) South Korea and Saudi Arabia battled out a 1-1 draw in their opening Asian Cup Group D match after the game was halted for 20 minutes due to a power failure today.

Following a cagey first half, Korea took the lead though Choi Sung-kuk in the 66th minute, the diminutive winger somehow rising high enough to nod home Oh Beom-sok's cross.

Saudi Arabia levelled with a controversial penalty 10 minutes later when Malek Mazz went down in the box. Yasser Al Qahtani stepped up to score from the spot.

The game was suspended with five minutes remaining after the lights went out at Gekora Bung Karno Stadium, leaving the players to wander aimlessly around the pitch for 20 minutes.

Play restarted when the floodlights were restored though most of the stadium remained in darkness.

The result left Indonesia at the top of Group D following the co-hosts' 2-1 win over Bahrain yesterday.

REUTERS BJR PM2105