Saudi Arabia power past Malaysia 2-0 in AFC youth championship

Mohamed Al Sahlawi and Ali Ataif scored off free kicks as 10-man Saudi Arabia brushed aside Malaysia 2-0 in the AFC Youth Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, India Wednesday evening.

Al Sahlawi, who was on the mark in the first match against Iraq, opened the scoring in the 13th minute and Ataif scored the second and what proved to be the final goal in the 60th minute.

The Saudis played the last 13 minutes without substitute Ahmed Al Fraidi who saw red for hacking down Malaysian skipper Mohamed Aidil Zafuan Abd Razak.

"We have brought our campaign back on track," declared Saudi coach Gilson Nunes after the match. "We have to keep up the momentum now. We have to improve our consistency."

It was imperative for the Saudis to bounce back from their 2-2 draw against Iraq to entertain hopes of advancing deeper into a competition they have won twice in the past, while Malaysia, who were done in by Vietnam, badly needed, as coach K Rajagopal put it, "a result" to avoid catching an early flight back home.

Both teams made minimal changes to their line-ups from the previous outing. Saudi coach Gilson Nunes carried out a midfield reshuffle, bringing in Ali Ataif in place of Ahmed Al Fraidi and Abdulaziz Al Dawsari for the talented Ahmad Kabee, while Malaysian tactician Rajagopal replaced Mohd Nasriq Baharom with Mohd Farid Ramli in the right of defence.

The Saudis put their rivals under early pressure when Aqeal Al Qarni's right-footed shot after the ball fell to him in a goalmouth melee in the seventh minute had to be palmed out by Malaysian goalkeeper Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid.

Malaysia should have taken the lead two minutes later when Saudi defender Saeed Alissa switched off and, to goalkeeper Hussain Shaian's horror, passed the ball to the lurking Safiq Rahim whose shot missed the right post by inches.

Rajagopal's team paid the price soon after for not converting this chance. Saudi hot-shot Al Sahlawi was brought down in front of the area and the Al Qadsiya player dusted himself and arrowed the free kick past the Malaysian custodian into the right corner.

The Saudis had to weather an anxious moment after this when defender Ali Ataif put a leg out in the path of Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri's cross-cum-shot and the ball thudded against the bar before going out.

Malaysia then had Abdul Hadi to thank for not letting the Saudis double their advantage as the custodian pulled off a string of superb saves, starting with Al Sahlawi's overhead kick on 30 minutes and Naif Hazazi's header five minutes before the interval.

Earlier, Alissa darted down the left to latch on to a through ball and after jinking past two Malaysian yellow shirts found himself right in front of Abdul Hadi and, instead of pulling the trigger, pulled it back for Al Sahlawi only to find the ball cleared before it reached the striker.

Yet another chance fell to the Saudis on the stroke of half time when Al Dawsari's free kick forced Abdul Hadi to fling himself to his right to keep the ball out of his net.

The Malaysians were unlucky not to have secured the equaliser on the stroke of half time when Safiq's piledriver from 30 yards out came back from the woodwork before Saudi defenders cleared the danger.

The restart saw powerful defender Mohamed Al Bishi's bullet-header at the near post off an Ataif corner go agonisingly wide.

At this juncture it started raining heavily and Saudi Arabia's second goal came during the downpour on the hour. A rampaging Hazazi was hauled down 25 yards from the goal and the resulting free kick was curled into the top right corner by Ataif.

With man advantage on their side, Malaysia tried hard to get back into the game but failed to find a way past the stubborn and physically superior Saudi backline which held up firmly despite the exit of Al Fraidi, who was sent in by Nunes in place of Alissa minutes earlier.

"My boys had psychological difficulties as they played very well in the first half but the second half was not so good," said Brazilian Nunes. "Malaysia are a good team but without luck."

Malaysian coach Rajagopal tried to draw on the positives. "We gave away free kicks and conceded sloppy goals. But this is a learning experience for us and we now know that our level is not too far behind the Saudis'."

Saudi Arabia next clash with Vietnam on Friday while Malaysia play for their pride against Iraq.

Source: Xinhua