Saudi Arabia down Indonesia; Qatar, Oman draw in AFC World Cup qualifiers | Football News

Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-2 whereas Qatar and Oman finish goalless as fourth spherical of qualifiers start.

Saudi Arabia have fought again to earn a 3-2 win over Indonesia in Group B of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers as Feras Al-Brikan’s double boosted their hopes of securing a spot at subsequent yr’s finals in North America.

Kevin Diks put Indonesia forward from the spot within the eleventh minute on Wednesday, however Saleh Abu Al-Shamat levelled six minutes later earlier than Al-Brikan scored both facet of half-time to safe the factors regardless of a second Diks penalty two minutes from time.

Saudi Arabia subsequent face Iraq in Jeddah on Tuesday and know {that a} win over Graham Arnold’s facet will assure their place in December’s draw for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Indonesia and Iraq will face each other on Saturday.

The Indonesians went in entrance when Hassan Al-Tambakhti caught out an arm as Dean James swung in his free kick from the proper and Diks stepped as much as clinically place his spot kick past Nawaf Al-Aqidi.

The lead was short-lived as Al-Shamat steered his right-footed strike from the sting of the realm past Maarten Paes’s dive to his left.

With 9 minutes left within the half, the house facet went in entrance. Yakob Sayuri’s unnecessary pull on Al-Brikan’s shirt noticed referee Ahmad Al-Ali known as to the pitch-side monitor, and the Kuwaiti awarded a penalty that Al-Brikan slammed residence.

Al-Brikan put the consequence past doubt within the 62nd minute with a scientific close-range end.

Paes threw himself to his proper to maintain out Musab Al-Juwayr’s low drive just for Al-Brikan to pounce on the rebound and ship the ball again beneath the physique of the Indonesia goalkeeper.

Diks struck once more from the penalty spot after Nawaf Bu Washl hit the ball together with his arm as he went down in his personal space in a tussle with Ole Romeny whereas Mohammed Kanno’s injury-time purple card made for a nervous end for Herve Renard’s facet.

Qatar’s World Cup hopes hit by plucky Oman

Oman stored hosts Qatar at bay to earn a 0-0 draw within the international locations’ opening conflict in Group A of the fourth spherical of Asia’s World Cup preliminaries earlier on Wednesday, denting each nations’ hopes of computerized qualification for the 2026 finals.

Qatar captain Akram Afif went closest to claiming the factors for Julen Lopetegui’s facet at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium when he wastefully steered his shot vast 49 minutes right into a tense sport of few possibilities.

The Carlos Queiroz-coached Omanis, who need to qualify for the World Cup for the primary time, will face the United Arab Emirates on Saturday within the subsequent sport within the three-team group. Qatar will tackle the Emiratis on Tuesday.

The winners of the group will qualify straight for the finals whereas the crew ending second advances to a playoff with the runner-up from Group B, which is being performed in Saudi Arabia.

Qatar dominated the opening exchanges however struggled to show that superiority into alternatives. Solely midfielder Boualem Khoukhi threatened the Oman purpose with a strike from distance within the thirteenth minute that flew vast of the goal.

The Omanis had been largely stored on the again foot though Issam Al-Sabhi did vogue a gap within the twenty seventh minute that goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada gathered, and Amjad Al-Harthi steered a header over the bar late within the half.

Afif ought to have put the hosts forward quickly after the interval when the Omanis gifted him possession in their very own half, however the Asian Participant of the 12 months uncharacteristically side-footed his shot the incorrect facet of the submit.

Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Jordan and Uzbekistan have already claimed six of Asia’s eight assured berths on the expanded 48-team finals. A doable ninth spot is accessible by way of an intercontinental playoff in March.