Doha, April 19 (QNA) – The Saudi national team achieved a major victory over its Thai counterpart by five clean goals in the match that brought them together today at Khalifa International Stadium in the second round of the third group competitions of the AFC U-23 Football Championship, which is currently being held in Qatar until next May 3. With the participation of 16 teams.
Saudi Arabia’s goals were scored by Ayman Yahya and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi in the two minutes (4 and 45 + 1), and Abdullah Redeef scored three goals in the minutes (45 + 7, 49 and 73).
The Saudi national team, the defending champion, achieved its second victory in a row after it had overcome Tajikistan in the first round with a score of (4-2), raising its score to 6 points to lead the group, while Thailand suffered its first loss after its victory in the last match over Iraq, to remain with three points in the position. The second is temporary.
The Saudi team started the match with pressure and threats to its opponent’s goal as early as the fourth minute, which witnessed an attack led by Haitham Asiri from the right side, after which he penetrated into the Thai team’s penalty area and passed a cross that Ayman Yahya converted with a quick touch into the net, announcing the first goal.
The early lead in the score gave Saudi Arabia a big boost, and the team then took control of the course of the match, benefiting from the strength of its midfield, which played a pivotal role in possession, while the Thailand team focused on securing its goal with a defensive organization, as the tenth minute witnessed a new attack after Ahmed Al-Ghamdi advanced with a ball on the side. The left shot was powerful and was blocked by the goalkeeper.
The defending champion continued his offensive pressure in search of strengthening his lead, leading an attack with the same scenario as the first goal, after players Ahmed Al-Ghamdi and Mohammed Wahib exchanged a fast ball, with the latter penetrating into the Thai team’s penalty area before shooting a strong ball that hit the post in the 29th minute.
The Saudi team took advantage of its strength represented by the right front, exploiting at the same time the weakness of the left side of the Thai team, to lead another attack, after which Ayman Yahya passed a ball behind the defense for Ahmed Al-Ghamdi to turn it into the net, adding the second goal in the minute (45 + 1).
Before the referee blew the whistle at the end of the first half and returned to the dressing room, Ayman Yahya cut off a ball from the Thai defense and passed a cross that Abdullah Redeef converted into the net, widening the difference in the score, scoring the third goal in the minute (45+7).
The Saudi national team began the second half with the same scenario as the first, threatening its opponent’s goal early, as Haitham Asiri led an attack to pass the ball through the middle of the defense, followed by striker Abdullah Redeef to shoot at the far corner, announcing the fourth goal for his country in the 49th minute.
The defending champion continued his offensive attempts despite leading by four, to put pressure on his opponent’s goal, and substitute player Saleh Abu Al-Shamat penetrated the ball into the middle of the defence, before passing it to Abdullah Redeef, who turned it into the net to add the fifth goal for Saudi Arabia in the 73rd minute.
The Saudi team maintained its lead with the large score in the remaining time of the match until the final whistle sounded to achieve its second victory in a row, coming close to reserving its place in the quarter-finals while waiting for the result of the confrontation between Iraq and Tajikistan, which will be held later today for the same group, as its qualification will be guaranteed if Tajikistan won the match.
