Saudi Arabia in sight of World Cup finals thanks to Al-Shamat strike and Al-Buraikan double
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia came from behind to defeat Indonesia 3-2 on Wednesday and take a giant step toward the 2026 World Cup finals. Two goals from Firas Al-Buraikan and a fine strike from his Al-Ahli team-mate, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, at their home ground in Jeddah means a victory over Iraq on Tuesday will ensure Herve Renard’s men make their seventh appearance at the World Cup finals, and even a point might be enough to book their tickets to North America. This opening game of the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers began, and would end, as a tense affair. The crowd at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, which is hosting all three Group B games, was silenced, aside from a small pocket of away fans, when Indonesia took the lead in the 11th minute. After a cross into a crowded area was adjudged to have been handled by Hassan Tambakti, Kevin Diks stepped up to take the spot kick and found the bottom corner of the net despite the best efforts of Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Given that the Saudis scored only seven goals across all 10 games in the third round of qualifiers, there was plenty of apprehension among the home crowd, but just six minutes later the hosts equalized and did so in style. Musab Al-Juwayr flicked a pass to Al-Shamat, who turned inside a defender just outside the area and then fired a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Ten minutes before the break, Saudi Arabia were in front.