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Sophia Klein
Saudi Arabia Revives World Cup Dreams with Victory Over China
Saudi Arabia secured a vital 1-0 victory over 10-man China, revitalizing their pursuit of World Cup qualification. Salem Al-Dawsari’s second-half goal brought the team into third place in Group C, closely trailing Australia. The win follows a series of challenging qualification matches, and the Green Falcons must now prepare for their crucial matchup against Japan.
Saudi Arabia has rejuvenated its 2026 World Cup qualification campaign following a 1-0 victory against 10-man China in Riyadh. Salem Al-Dawsari’s goal, scored early in the second half, propelled Herve Renard’s team into third place in Group C, just one point behind Australia, while maintaining a three-point cushion over Indonesia, Bahrain, and China. Japan’s 2-0 triumph over Bahrain ensured their position at the top of the group with a nine-point lead and confirmed their qualification for the tournament.
Pressure mounted on the Saudi team after Australia’s earlier 5-1 victory over Indonesia, which intensified the urgency for the Saudis, who had only garnered two points in their last four matches. With a challenging game against dominant Japan looming, a win was imperative. The Green Falcons showcased determination, nearly scoring in the first half when Al-Dawsari’s pass led to a shot from Nawaf Boushal that struck the crossbar.
Saudi Arabia’s offensive efforts nearly resulted in a goal when Faisal Al-Ghamdi found the net, only for the video assistant referee to disallow it due to a handball. The situation worsened for China when Lin Liangming was red-carded for a foul in first-half stoppage time, leaving them with ten players. Al-Dawsari finally broke the stalemate five minutes into the second half with a close-range finish after a rebound from an Ayman Yahya shot.
Although Saudi Arabia continued to search for a second goal, their solitary goal sufficed for victory. The tournament structure allows the top two teams in the group to qualify for the World Cup directly, while those in third and fourth position will proceed to a play-off phase under the current qualification standards.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s recent victory against China has revitalized their World Cup qualifying efforts, placing them in a competitive position within Group C. Salem Al-Dawsari’s decisive goal highlights the team’s resilience, especially after previous struggles. With only one point separating them from Australia, the Saudis now look toward their forthcoming match against Japan as a crucial step in pursuing their World Cup aspirations.
Original Source: www.arabnews.pk
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