Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: Mohammed Al Sahlawi scored twice in quick succession just after half-time as three-time winners Saudi Arabia kept their AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 quarter-final hopes alive after recording a 4-1 comeback win over DPR Korea on Wednesday. Match highlights: DPR Korea 1-4 Saudi Arabia Click here for match summary
DPR Korea’s first AFC Asian Cup goal since November 1992 after 11 minutes from Ryang Yong-gi had given Jo Tong-sop’s side hope of bouncing back from Saturday’s opening defeat by Uzbekistan in Group B.
But after Naif Hazazi equalised for Saudi Arabia before half-time, Al Sahlawi’s quickfire double in the space of three second-half minutes and a late strike from Nawaf Al Abid ensured Cosmin Olaroiu’s side their first three points of the campaign having lost to China at the weekend and ended the quarter-final hopes of former semi-finalists DPR Korea.
With both sides seeking their first points of the campaign at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, DPR Korea made an aggressive start as Sim Hyon-jin was denied twice in quick succession by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah, with the first from a dipping strike from the edge of the penalty area in the seventh minute and the second a glancing header from the resulting corner.
Abdullah, though, was beaten just four minutes later as Ryang followed up after the Saudi Arabia custodian could only parry Pak Kwang-ryong’s dipping angled volley from Jong Il-gwan’s knockdown back out towards the penalty spot.
Saudi Arabia looked for an instant response as Hazazi headed agonisingly wide from inside the penalty area six minutes later as Ri Myong-guk’s goal came under increasing pressure as the half progressed.
And Saudi Arabia equalised eight minutes before half-time as the Green Falcons quickly worked the ball across the edge of the penalty area for Al Abid to tee-up Hazazi, and the Al Shabab striker fired low through the legs of the DPR Korea goalkeeper at his near post.
Ri Myong-guk, though, did come to DPR Korea’s rescue three minutes before half-time as the custodian produced a superb one-handed save low to his left to turn Al Abid’s equally eye-catching turn and volley around the post.
But as Saudi Arabia continued to dominate into the second half, Ri Myong-guk was again beaten seven minutes after half-time as Al Sahlawi was on hand to stab home from close range after Abdulla Al Dossary’s low drilled cross had taken a fortunate deflection off Jang Kuk-chol.
And DPR Korea handed Saudi Arabia a third goal just two minutes later as Jang Song-hyok’s overhit backpass caused confusion between Ri Yong-jik and goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk on the edge of the penalty area, and with the defender only able to drill his attempted clearance against Al Sahlawi, the striker simply rolled the ball into the empty net.
Al Sahlawi had a chance to seal his hat-trick with 19 minutes remaining, but after racing clear of the DPR Korea backline and with only Ri Myong-guk to beat, the striker poked his effort wide shortly before being substituted.
Saudi Arabia, though, did add a fourth with 13 minutes remaining as Al Abid followed up having seen his penalty saved by Ri Myong-guk after Ri Yong-jik had been sent-off in unfortunate circumstances as Salem Al Dawsari’s chipped effort from inside the area had rebounded back off the crossbar and hit the midfielder’s raised arm.
Photo: WSG