Dubai: Saudi Arabia struck a late penalty to beat the UAE 2-1 in the fourth group game of second round 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Thursday.
Saudi’s Mohammad Al Sahlawi cancelled out Ahmad Khalil’s 18the minute free-kick before the interval and then converted from the spot on 90 minutes after Omar Abdul Rahman was adjudged to have brought down Nawaf Al Abid inside the box. In truth, although it was a reckless lunge from Omar, there was never any contact on Abid, and the UAE will come away aggrieved.
Mahdi Ali’s men, who entered Thursday’s game two points adrift of Saudi, could have leapfrogged the Green Falcons to the top of Group A with victory in Jeddah, or contained yjr lead with a draw. But instead the defeat allows Saudi to pull five points clear at the top, with only the top team guaranteed progression to the third round.
The UAE must now find answers in their remaining four group games to either catch Saudi or improve their status as one of the four best second-placed sides who enter the third round through the back door.
Saudi Arabia got off to a brighter start with Yasser Al Shahrani chesting down a long ball and turning inside his marker only to blast over, before Al Sahlawi headed over from a cross moments later.
But the hosts’ momentum was truly punctured on 18 minutes when Khalil fired a free-kick from 30 yards around the wall and into the top left hand corner, completely against the run of play.
Saudi might have had a shout for penalty before the half hour when Yahya Al Shehri’s shot appeared to strike a defender’s hand inside the box. And Al Shahrani should have done better when a deflection put him in yards of space with time to place his shot.
But the Green Falcons’ first half dominance was eventually repaid anyway, when Abdullah Al Dossary’s low pass across the goalmouth was bundled in by Al Sahlawi on 45 minutes.
Psychologically that allowed the Saudis to come out even stronger than they had started the first half. And one of their best chances from a flurry of activity up their end came before the hour when Nawaf Al Abid cut in behind the defence and shot at the near post. His initial effort was saved by Khaled Eisa but palmed only as far as Al Dossary who struck painstakingly wide of an unmanned goal.
The UAE, who had done well to survive the onslaught, only eased out of their defensive mentality with ten minutes remaining.
But that allowed Al Abid space, and on another cutting run in behind the defence at the near post, Omar lunged into a panicked challenge. Al Abid made the most of his tumble and Al Sahlawi shot left of the keeper to secure his brace from the spot.
