Saudi Arabia mauled by Mali despite Al-Dawsari magic

RIYADH: Salem Al-Dawsari more than matched his spectacular World Cup strike against Argentina against Mali on Tuesday but could not prevent Saudi Arabia losing 3-1 to the Africans in Portugal.

Roberto Mancini’s men were mostly second best in their last friendly before the start of 2026 World Cup qualification in November. With the Green Falcons now falling to nine defeats in the last 11 games, there is much for the Italian, appointed in August, to think about.

The major consolation, apart from the reminder that Al-Dawsari can conjure something special out of nothing, is that Pakistan and Jordan, next month’s opposition in Group G, are unlikely to be anywhere near as clinical as Mali. In the first half they had four attempts on goal which resulted in two goals, one ruled out marginally for offside and a last-ditch save.

Mali sounded a warning in the seventh minute when a simple ball from deep caught the defence flat-footed. Fousseni Diabate was anything but as he raced clear to enter the area but the Swiss-based star got the ball caught in his feet and Mohammed Al-Owais got down well to make the save.

There was not much the man from Al-Hilal could do eight minutes later, however, as Moussa Doumbia cut inside on the left side of the area and his low shot took a cruel deflection off Ali Lajami and ended up in the back of the net.

Saudi Arabia tried to fight back and looked lively in the final third with some fast passing and movement but they could not quite find the all-important pass. The closest they came in the first half was a dangerous corner that goalkeeper Ismael Diawara palmed away under pressure from Lajami.

Just after the half-hour, Diabete picked up the ball on the right side, cut inside Ali Al-Bulaihi