AFC Asian Qualifiers
The Al Hilal captain netted in the 50th minute against a Chinese side that had to play the entire second 45 minutes a man down after Lin Liangmin was sent off in first half injury time for a foul on Hassan Al Tambakti.
Victory moves Saudi Arabia onto nine points from seven games and keeps Renard’s side within a point of Australia in the battle to claim the remaining automatic qualifying berth behind table toppers Japan. China PR are on six points with three matches remaining.
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The Chinese sought to put their hosts under pressure in the early exchanges, with Xie Wenning seeing his attempt blocked by the defence before, at the other end, Musab Al Juwayr was off target with his 15th minute effort.
Nawaf Bu Washl went closest to opening the scoring for the Saudis as the half approached the midway point, the winger released into space by Al Dawsari’s clever backheel, only for his curling strike to come back off the underside of the crossbar.
Wang Dalei twice kept the Saudis out in a matter of seconds as the end of the half approached. The Shandong Taishan goalkeeper reacted sharply to keep the ball out when Jiang Shenglong redirected Salem Al Dawsari’s cross towards his own goal.
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And Wang was quick moments later to push Feras Al Brikan’s attempt away for a corner.
Faisal Al Ghamdi then thought he had put the Saudis ahead when he bundled the ball over the line, but a VAR review ruled out that effort out for handball.
Jiang slid in to block Al Dawsari’s attempt to finish off a counterattack from the Saudis with three minutes left in a half that ended with China PR reduced to 10 men as Lin was sent off having caught Al Tambakti in the face with his boot.
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Wang denied Al Dawsari two minutes after the restart with his feet but a further three minutes later the playmaker had put his side in front.
It was Al Dawsari who sparked the move that brought the goal, winning possession on the left and, while Aiman Yahya’s initial attempt was saved, the ball ended up at the feet of the experienced winger, and he side-footed home from close range.
Nasser Al Dawsari almost added a second, slipping as he shot past Wang’s left post and Yahya fired wide with the goalkeeper out of position with the clock ticking towards the final whistle and a deserved Saudi Arabia victory.
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