With January’s AFC U23 Championship edging ever closer, join the-afc.com as we continue our look at the teams who will be vying for honours in Qatar, at a tournament that also doubles as the qualifiers for the men’s football tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games.
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia head into the AFC U23 Championship in Qatar looking to go one step further than they did in the inaugural tournament when they finished runners-up to fellow West Asians Iraq.
After finishing second in Group D of the AFC U-22 Championship in 2014 they stunned Australia with a 2-1 triumph in the quarter-finals and then beat Jordan 3-1 in the last four.
However, their dreams of being crowned the first ever champions ended at the final hurdle when they lost 1-0 in the decider.
Although they booked their place in Qatar 2016 by finishing top of qualifying Group C, it was far from a convincing campaign as they struggled for goals in their first two matches.
The Saudis needed an 88th-minute penalty from skipper Abdullah Madu to defeat Palestine by a solitary goal in their opener and after drawing a blank in their next game against Afghanistan, they finally found their scoring groove in their third match with Ahmed Essa Al Nathiri netting a first-half double in a 6-0 hammering of Nepal.
And Saudi Arabia secured qualification as Group C winners after defeating hosts Iran 2-1 although an 84th-minute Saeed Al Yami own goal ensured a nervous finish after Abdulfattah Asiri (70th) and Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi (81st) had given the Saudis a two-goal advantage
Saudi Arabia’s Group B Fixtures
January 13: Saudi Arabia v Thailand (Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 16: Saudi Arabia v DPR Korea (Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 19: Saudi Arabia v Japan (Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
Photo: AFP
Source: the-afc.com