Bangkok: Saudi Arabia closed their AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 group stage with maximum points after a 3-0 win over China PR at the Chonburi Uta Stadium on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia, who had already confirmed their spot in the quarterfinals after consecutive 2-0 wins in Group C, will meet the Group D runners-up next.
Twice-champions China PR, who drew 1-1 with Tajikistan and lost 5-3 to Australia, ended their 2023 campaign with their heads held high after giving their all in their matches. Despite starting without a number of regulars, Saudi Arabia came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute but an unmarked Jathub Aldhafiri shot straight into the arms of keeper Xie Gongbo.
China PR had to wait until the 16th minute for their first look at goal when Kuai Jiwen’s ferocious shot from just off the 18-yard box rocked the crossbar. It was then Saudi Arabia’s turn to rattle the crossbar, thanks to Mohammed Almuwallad’s bicycle kick from inside the area in the 28th minute.
The West Asians dominated play towards the end of the first half, but with China PR packing the 18-yard box, saw their attacks cut short before they could deliver the final blow.Their persistency, however, paid off in the 45th minute, when Almuwallad’s powerful close-range header off a precise Bder Albishy pass from the right gave Xie no chance at all.
Saudi Arabia kept the momentum going in the second half, with Amar al Yuhabi’s 10-metre effort in the 48th minute resulting in a superb save from Xie. He tried again three minutes later, but this time ballooned his shot from just inside the area.China kept pressing forward, with Wu Yudong seeing his shot hit the side netting after a run down the left in the 65th minute.
Wang Haobin then saw his goal-bound shot from inside the area in the 73rd minute deflect off Youssef Altahan and roll harmlessly past keeper Abdulrahman Alghamdi. Saudi Arabia scored their second against the run of play in the 78th minute, when Nawaf Albishri picked up the ball just after the halfway line, ran down the right and sidestepped a defender before letting loose a shot that went past a stranded Xie.
They closed the match with their third goal in the second minute of time added on after Al Yuhabi volleyed home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Australia defeat Tajikistan to advance
Australia beat Tajikistan 2-0 at the Rajamangala Stadium to book a place in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 quarterfinals on Thursday. With already-qualified Saudi Arabia defeating China PR 3-0 in the other group fixture, Australia finished runners-up and will meet the Group D winners in the knockout stage. Both teams came into the tie having a realistic chance of qualifying but it was the Joeys who settled first with Nestory Irankunda setting up Miguel Di Pizio, who made his way into the box before drilling his grounded effort just wide of the left post.
That would ultimately be Australia’s best chance of the half as Tajikistan began to assert themselves in the game, putting their opponents under pressure in the 12th minute with Abubakr Sulaymonov setting up Dzhovidon Khushvakhtov whose shot from the top of the box was deflected over the bar. Australia had to weather constant threats from Sheravgan Saidov, who missed with a header from close range off a corner, while Sulaymonov, Rabboni Kamolov and Khushvakhtov all wasted their chances from inside the six-yard-box.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Australia barely troubled the Tajikistan defence with Irankunda, who scored a brace in their 5-3 win over China PR, hitting his first attempt at goal in the 41st minute from distance right into the arm of keeper Mekhrubon Khamidov. That competitive tension continued into the second half as significant chances were few and far between until the hour mark when Australia finally found a way through in the 64th minute.
Daniel Bennie saw his earlier effort blocked from outside the box but the Australia No 7 was in the right place at the right time when Irankunda burst into the box and forced a save from Khamidov, who deflected the ball into the path of Bennie to tap in from close range. Tajikistan thought they had found a breakthrough in the 69th minute when Dzhovidon Khushvakhtov played in a delightful cross for Saidov to head into the back of the net but the defender was ruled offside. Australia doubled their lead in the ninth minute of added time with Nathan Amanatidis storming into the Tajikistan defence on the counter-attack to seal the win and a place in the quarterfinals.
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