Recording a 4-1 comeback win over DPR Korea on Wednesday, three-time winners Saudi Arabia kept their AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 quarter-final hopes alive.
With both sides seeking their first points of the campaign at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, DPR Korea made an aggressive start against Saudi Arabia, with their first AFC Asian Cup goal since November 1992 coming after 11 minutes from Ryang Yong-gi, to give Jo Tong-sop’s side hope of bouncing back from Saturday’s opening defeat by Uzbekistan in Group B.
But after Naif Hazazi equalized for Saudi Arabia before half-time, Mohammed Al Sahlawi’s quickfire double in three minutes in the second-half and a late strike from Nawaf Al Abid ensured Cosmin Olaroiu’s side, their first three points of the campaign having lost to China at the weekend, and ended the quarter-final hopes of former semi-finalists DPR Korea.
In the second match of the day from Group B, China booked its place in the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Uzbekistan in Brisbane.
Odil Ahmedov put the Uzbeks ahead midway through the first half. But second-half goals from Wu Xi and Sun Ke saw Alain Perrin’s men to victory, sealing their place in the last eight.
China tops the group on six points ahead of a clash against winless DPR Korea, with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan (both three points) to do battle in the pool’s other remaining match.
