BORDEAUX, June 24: South Africa failed in their last-chance bid to stay in the World Cup today when they could only draw 2-2 with already eliminated Saudi Arabia.The match featured three penalties, two to the Saudis and one to South Africa.Shaun Bartlett raised South African hopes of the win they needed to have any chance of overtaking Denmark for second place in Group `C' with a sweet left-foot drive from a tight angle in the 19th minute, latching on to a long ball from the deep.But Sami Al-Jaber made it 1-1 with a penalty on the stroke of halftime and the Saudis took the lead with 17 minutes to go when captain Youssef Al-Thyniyan converted their second spot-kick.South Africa salvaged some pride when they were awarded the third penalty of the game in the last minute. Bartlett took the kick to collect his second goal.Shortly before halftime, however, the repeated penetrating runs into the box brought their rewards when imposing Olympique Marseille defender Pierre Issa was adjudged by theChilean referee to have brought down veteran Saudi captain Al-Tunian.Al-Jaber, chief tormentor of the rival defence, stepped up to stroke home the spot-kick past Hans Vonk for the Saudis first goal of the tournament after letting in four against France and one against Denmark.The Saudis continued to be dangerous on the break and when substitute Ibrahim Al-Shahrani was felled in the box - again by Issa - the 34-year-old Al-Thyniyan, winning his 88th cap, stepped up to convert the penalty.But they were denied a win by Bartlett's last minute equaliser.
