Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: Saudi Arabia made a winning start to Group D of the qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship as the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Cup winners scored four second-half goals to defeat hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The teams went into the interval on an even keel after Saudi skipper Mousa Naif Al Mas cancelled out Sarower Zaman Nipu’s 29th minute opener with five minutes of the first half remaining.
The Gulf kingdom was given the numerical advantage five minutes after the restart when Bangladesh keeper Faysol Ahmed received a straight red, prompting head coach Syed Golam Jilani to withdraw midfielder Md. Ridoy to bring on substitute keeper Md. Nur Alom.
Saudi Arabia capitalised on the reorganisation of the Bangladesh ranks almost immediately as Tariq Feras Al Brikan made it 2-1 in the 56th minute before three goals in the final ten minutes put a dominant veneer on the Saudis victory.
Mohammed Mansour Mali scored Saudi Arabia’s third from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute and after Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Dhuwayhi netted number four two minutes later, late substitute Abdan Hamad Al Abdan sealed the 5-1 victory in the 90th minute, just five minutes after replacing goalscorer Al Dhuwayhi.
Saudi Arabia play their final match in the three-team Group D on Sunday when they face Gulf neighbours the UAE, who begin their qualifying campaign on Friday when they take on Bangladesh.
Ten group winners and four best second-placed teams will join DPR Korea, who topped the already concluded Group H, and India in next year’s finals, with the tournament hosts receiving an automatic qualification.
Should India finish top of their qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the fifth best second-placed nation will qualify for the final competition.
Photo: Bangladesh Football Federation