NATIONAL TEAM

THAILAND 1:3 SAUDI ARABIA

WORLD CUP 2002 ASIAN QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT  (BANGKOK THAiLAND)

2nd ROUND 15/09/2001 18:30 TST.
Saudi Arabia came back from being a goal behind to defeat Thailand 3-1 in Bangkok in Group A of Asia’s World Cup qualifying tournament and move back into contention for the one automatic qualifying spot for Korea/Japan 2002.

Goals from Sami Al Jaber, Abdullah Sheehan and Obeid Al Dossary in the second half cancelled out Sakesan Pituratana’s opener for the home side as the Saudis moved into second place, one point behind Iran, who drew 0-0 with Bahrain on Friday.

But it was so nearly not the case for Nassr Al Johar’s team as the Thais opened strongly.

Mohammad Babkr in the Saudi goal was busiest of the two goalkeepers in the opening period and the Al Nassr custodian was called into action after just 11 minutes to deny Anuruck Srikert, whose low drive was pushed around the post.

But Peter Withe’s side deserved took the lead 17 minutes later when Kiatisuk Senamuang, who had been tormenting the Saudi defence since the kick off, swept past Hussein Abdul Ghani and Abdullah Suleiman to send an angled ball across the face of goal to Sakesan Pituratana.

The BEC Terro Sasana striker’s effort hit Babkr but there was nothing he could do to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Seven minutes from the break the Saudis almost pulled level. Abdullah Sheehan’s corner from the Thai right was headed onto the crossbar by Mohammad Al Khilaiwi. Within seconds Al Johar’s side hit the woodwork again as Abdullah Suleiman’s header hit the frame of the goal as the Thais struggled to clear the ball.

The Saudis did finally equalise with barely a minute on the clock after the restart. Sheehan’s through-ball caught the Thai defence sleeping and Sami Al Jaber did well to convert from wide on the left.

The goal shook the Thais and nine minutes later the Saudis almost took the lead. But Kittisak Rawangpa’s sprawling dive to his right denied Obeid Al Dossary’s long-range free-kick.

They did not have to wait much longer to go in front, however. Rawangpa did well to parry Saad Al Dossary’s long range shot in the 63rd minute but Sheehan sped in to pounce on the rebound, firing the ball into the roof of the net to silence the home fans.

The two-time World Cup qualifiers then made the game safe in the 70th minute when Al Jaber’s slaloming run into the heart of the Thai defence allowed the Al Hilal forward to find Obeid Al Dossary, who had time to pick his spot and complete the come back.