Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah: Mohammad Al Sahlawi struck twice as Saudi Arabia came form a goal down to defeat the UAE 2-1 on Thursday and open up a five point gap over the 2015 AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists at the top of Group A of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifiers.
UAE skipper Ahmed Khalil, who plays his club football with AFC Champions League semi-finalists Al Ahli, stunned the home crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium when he opened the scoring with a blistering 18th minute free kick that flew past Saudi keeper Khalid Sharahili and into the top corner from all of 30 yards.
It was the 2008 AFC Young Player of the Year’s fifth goal of the qualifiers following his four-goal haul in the record-breaking 10-0 defeat of Malaysia but his opener was to be cancelled out just before the interval by the even more prolific Al Sahlawi
The Al Nassr striker drew the Saudis level when he converted Abdullah Al Dossary’s cross on the stroke of half-time with what was looking like the goal that would see the two Gulf giants share the spoils.
However, with a minute left on the clock Singapore referee Muhammad bin Jahari adjudged that Nawaf Al Abaid had been fouled in the area allowing Al Sahlawi to confidently score the match winner from the penalty spot with his seventh of the qualifiers (having also had a goal against Malaysia negated after the Saudi’s were awarded a 3-0 walkover victory after their match in Shah Alam was abandoned due to crowd trouble).
With four rounds played the three-time Asian champions top Group A with 12 points, five more than second placed UAE who are now only two points above Palestine who will be ruing their 1-1 draw with Timor Leste in Thursday’s other Group A fixture in Dilli.
The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.
NEXT FIXTURES:
November 12: UAE v Timor Leste
November 17: Timor Leste v Saudi Arabia