Hakeem’s charges currently top the standings after drawing with Qatar on Matchday One and then recording an impressive win over Japan last time out.

Dali has been Syria’s super-sub in Thailand 2020, coming off the bench in their group opener against Qatar to help salvage a 2-2 draw, and was on target again when his incredible run from the half-line mark ended with him slotting past Japanese goalkeeper Keisuke Osako to ensure a 2-1 win on Sunday. 

Their victory over the 2016 champions propelled Syria to the top of the group, and a win over Saudi Arabia will assure them a first appearance in the quarter-finals since the inaugural edition in 2013-14.

Ala’a Aldin Dali came off the bench for the second game in a row to score a decisive goal for Hakeem’s side, netting the winner against Japan three days after scoring a late equaliser against Qatar in Syria’s opening game in Group B.

Dali raced half the length of the field before slotting past Japanese goalkeeper Keisuke Saito to leave the Japanese rooted to the bottom of Group B without a point from their first two games and with no way to progress beyond the opening phase of the competition.

Despite creating the more clear-cut opportunities in what proved to be a tight and tense encounter at the Thammasat Stadium, the Saudis failed to convert a number of second-half chances after breaching a resolute Qatar defence.

With one game each still to play, the result sees Saudi Arabia move to four points following their impressive defeat of Japan on Matchday One, with Qatar – in the wake of their draw with Syria – two points adrift of their regional rivals.

Saudi Arabia complete their group stage fixtures on Wednesday when they face Syria, while Qatar will tackle Japan on the same day.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s penalty two minutes from time sealed the three points for the Saudis as Al Shehri earned some personal payback for the defeat he suffered at the hands of the Japanese in the final of the AFC U19 Championship in Bahrain in 2016.

But while the Saudi coach would be forgiven for rejoicing at avenging that defeat – which came via a penalty shootout – he chose instead to look to the future, and the prospect of qualifying his country for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1996.