With qualification for the 2010 event at stake on Saturday the Saudis came to China looking for a promising performance to prepare them for the clash and they made a great start as Yasser Al Qahtani opened the scoring after seven minutes, heading home Nasser Al Shamrani's cross.

Jiang Ning pulled the hosts level 10 minutes before half-time, firing past goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah after being played in by Gao Lin, who moments earlier thought he had levelled the scores only for his strike to be ruled out for offside.

China could not maintain the parity until the break, however. Mohammed Noor restored the Saudi lead in the 44th minute after heading in captain Sulaimani Hussain Omar's inviting free-kick.

The Saudis stayed on the offensive in the second half, but as China pushed more and more for another equaliser substitute striker Naif Hazzazi Ahemd extended the visitor's lead around the hour mark.

Then two minutes from time Binsaran Nasser added a fourth goal, this time from the penalty spot.

"Our good performance in Tianjin bodes well for our game against Korea Republic on June 10," said Saudi coach Jose Peseiro.

"I want to beat the rivals away and I hope we can enjoy another goal-fest in Korea."

Saudi Arabia are one point adrift of front-runners South Korea in Group B. They are tied with North Korea on 10 points, but are behind on goal difference.

China will miss out on the 2010 World Cup after being eliminated in the third round of Asian qualifiers.