AFC U20 Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia had to wait until their final Group B tie, registering a come-from-behind 2-1 win over DPR Korea to book their berth. The three-time champions defeated Jordan 1-0 in their opening tie and had a player sent off in their 1-0 loss to a superior Iraq.
Group A runners-up China PR, on the other hand, qualified with a match to spare. The East Asians beat Qatar 2-1 and went on a scoring spree against Kyrgyz Republic - winning 5-2 before falling 2-1 to table-toppers Australia.
Saudi Arabia head coach Marcos Soares knows his side will be in for a tough time against the hosts.
“China played an amazing game against Australia and could have won,” he said. “Their coach knows the game well, and playing in front of their home crowd will be a big challenge for us.”
Soares added that for now, the objective is to make the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.
“I’ve been telling my players since we arrived that we have four finals to play until we realise our dream,” said the Brazilian. “We need to fight more than ever and do our best because China is a very tough team.”
AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 | Quarter-Finals Preview
China PR head coach Dejan Djurdjevic said the most difficult aspect of football was scoring goals, especially against teams like Saudi Arabia and Australia.
“It’s not easy when you face a good team that knows how to defend,” he said. “Having a solid defence makes things easier as it keeps you in the game, but scoring is always the hardest part."
“Winning this game is crucial for our World Cup hopes, which is why we rested key players against Australia to ensure everyone is fit and ready for this important match.”
The winners will face either Korea Republic or Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.
Saudi Arabia v China PR
Venue: Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium (Shenzhen)
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:15 (UTC+8)
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