Saudi Arabia edged out Uzbekistan 2-1 on Sunday to make it to the Asian Cup semifinals.
The three-time Asian Cup winners, who topped Group D after winning two matches and drawing one, took the lead three minutes into action with midfielder Yasser Al Qahtani scoring his third goal of the tournament.
Qahtanni fired a close-range shot after Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignaity Nesterov failed to hold on a cross from Abdulrahman Al Qahtani.
Uzbekistan almost equalized two minutes later when midfielder Server Djeparov hit the post with a long-range effort, the first in a string of good first-half chances the team created as it pushed for an equalizer.
On 20 minutes, Uzbekistan captain Maksim Shatskikh had the goal in the back of the net, but it was flagged for offside.
In the 75th minute, Saudi Ahmed Al Mousa broke into the box and made a splendid goal.
Dogged Uzbekistan pulled one back at the 82nd minute through substitute Pavel Solomin, but the goal came too late.
Saudi Arabia will play Japan on Wednesday in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua
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