The Saudi team is close to securing a spot in the final qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup after a challenging 3-0 victory over Singapore in a match held at Mrsool Park in the capital, Riyadh, during the seventh phase of the fourth group in the dual Asian qualifiers. The Saudi team had already secured its place in the final tournament of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup to be held in China after its previous 3-0 win against the Yemeni team.
The Saudi team faced considerable difficulty in breaking through the defense of the Singaporean team, whose players exhibited remarkable defensive play for 83 minutes. The Green team had a clear opportunity before the end of the first half for striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan, who received an excellent pass from his teammate Salem Al-Dosari, but his shot went wide of the goal.
In the second half, the Saudi team continued to attack and waited until the 83rd minute to score the opening goal through Salem Al-Dosari, who followed up on a shot from his teammate Saleh Al-Shehri that rebounded off the post to put the ball in the net. The Green team maintained its offensive pressure, and striker Fahd Al-Muwallad scored the second goal in the 86th minute after stealing the ball from a Singaporean defender, facing the goalkeeper, and maneuvering to place the ball in the net.
Saudi Arabia intensified its attacks, and striker Saleh Al-Shehri scored the third goal in the 90+6 minute. With this result, the Green team strengthened its lead in the group, raising its points to 17, two points ahead of Uzbekistan, which is in second place after winning against Yemen 1-0 with a penalty scored by their player Macharipov. The Saudi team will conclude its matches in the dual Asian qualifiers next Tuesday when it faces Uzbekistan in a decisive match for the top position.
