AFC U-22 C'ship: China 1-2 Saudi Arabia

Hawsawi’s error had allowed China midfielder Luo Senwen to cancel out Abdulfattah Asiri’s 47th minute opener just before the hour mark of the Group D contest.

But with Saudi Arabia looking to bounce back from Sunday’s comprehensive 3-1 defeat by Iraq, Hawsawi made amends to end China’s campaign following a second consecutive defeat.

With Iraq earlier sealing a place in the last eight from Group D with a game to spare after beating Uzbekistan 2-1, Saudi Arabia will now go head-to-head with the Central Asians on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals with the pair level on three points after two games.

“Both teams are very strong and both teams needed to win after they lost their first matches. The match was very open as both teams needed to win. I was able to change some players and that is the reason we were able to win,” said Saudi Arabia coach Khalid Al Koroni.

“We wanted to win this match and we want to win the last match as we want to be in the second round.”

With both sides seeking their first points of the campaign, China midfielder Xu Xin drew a regulation save from Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais 18 minutes into a tight contest.

Opposite number Fang Jingqi then endured a sterner examination four minutes later as the China custodian had to be alert to beat away Saleh Al Jaman’s snap shot low at his near post.

The tight nature of the contest continued for the remainder of the first half until only a last-ditch block from Saudi Arabia defender Hamad Al Jayzani denied Wu Xinghan after the China striker had directed Yang Chaosheng’s pull-back on target with a neat turn and shot from just outside the six yard area.

But just two minutes into the second half it was Saudi Arabia who broke the deadlock as Asiri rounded off aslick passing move with a composed finish into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area.

The lead, though, lasted less than 10 minutes as Hawsawi’s sliced attempted clearance ballooned up in the air, and with goalkeeper Al Owais in no man’s land close to his penalty spot, Luo coolly lifted a composed side-footed volley over the stranded custodian and into the unguarded net.

And China almost completed the turnaround seven minutes after the hour mark as Yang raced in behind the Saudi Arabia defence, but fortunately on this occasion Al Owais was able to make contact with the striker’s deft attempted lob and the ball dropped safely onto the roof of the net.

But despite coming close to taking the lead, China almost handed the advantage back to Saudi Arabia with 17 minutes remaining as defender Mi Haolun attempted to chest a left wing cross back to goalkeeper Fang only to divert the ball onto the foot of the post.

Saudi Arabia, however, did not have to wait long to regain the lead as goalscorer Luo was adjudged to have tripped Saleh Al Shehri just inside the penalty area and Hawsawi made up for his earlier error as the captain confidently converted the resulting spot kick despite Fang guessing correctly.

China almost found an instant response as Xu’s rasping rising drive was acrobatically turned over the crossbar by Al Owais just three minutes later before substitute Zhang Wei fired into the side netting following an error by the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper.

But after conceding twice in stoppage time against Uzbekistan in Sunday’s opener, China were unable to find an equaliser to keep their campaign alive ahead of Thursday’s meeting with quarter-final-bound Iraq.

“We lost the first match so we had to win this match, but unfortunately we missed some chances during the match. We made changes during the match to change our fortunes, but maybe there was too much pressure on the players,” said China coach Fu Bo.

“Saudi Arabia are a very strong team and both teams had chances, but Saudi Arabia scored one goal and one penalty while we missed our chances and we were unlucky.

“I am satisfied with the performance of all the players. They followed the plan and did their best.”