JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by Bahrain in Jeddah on Tuesday in another disappointing performance and result in the third round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
A first-half missed penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari — his second in four games in Group C — proved costly and meant that the Green Falcons failed to climb above Australia into second place.
The Socceroos had earlier drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama, to move on to five points, one above Saudi Arabia and five behind the Samurai Blue.
The match had given Roberto Mancini’s men the chance to move two points above Australia into second ahead of their meeting in Melbourne next month, but after collecting only one point now from two home games in Jeddah in the space of five days, the heat is on the Italian head coach.
In reality this was another plodding performance, albeit against well-organized, hard-working and physically strong opponents. There were few moments of quality and few chances.
Saudi Arabia started brightly, however, with Firas Al-Buraikan forcing an early save from Ebrahim Lutfalla after some smart attacking interplay, but there was an even bigger chance before long.
There was a lengthy VAR delay in the 13th minute as Marwan Al-Sahafi went down in the area under a challenge from Abdulla Al-Khalasi. After almost three minutes the referee, who had not originally pointed to the spot, went to the pitchside monitor and, almost inevitably, changed his decision. It looked like the right one and it gave Al-Dawsari the opportunity to settle the nerves at the King Abdullah Sports City and banish memories of his miss against Indonesia in the opening game that ended in a 1-1 draw.
The 2022 Asian Player of the Year also had to take his time and it was almost six minutes after the initial foul when he took the kick. It was not the best of penalties and Lutfalla stood his ground and then made a diving save to his left. The feeling of energy leaving the stadium was palpable.
It took the hosts some time to get going again and they could even have been behind at the break.
Bahrain’s best chance in the first half came in the seventh minute of added time as Al-Khalasi almost redeemed himself for giving away the penalty but, from the left corner of the area, his low shot was well-blocked by Ahmed Al-Kassar. The goalkeeper was in action moments later too, flying through the air to push away a ball that had come off the head of Al-Buraikan.
The Green Falcons had some half-chances early in the second half and had a rare opportunity with 11 minutes remaining. Abdullah Radif ran into the area and made space for himself, only to shoot tamely into the arms of the grateful Lutfalla.
Bahrain had to work even harder after 87 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men, the visitors having used all their substitutes before Sayed Hashim Isa went off injured.
Given the 11 minutes of added time, there was still hope for Saudi Arabia, especially after Al-Dawsari went down in the area under a challenge from the goalkeeper. The referee was not interested in the penalty, however, and, this time, neither was VAR.
Musab Al-Juwayr sent an enticing low cross into the six-yard box in the 101st minute but there was no one able to connect to win the game.
That was that, and only one team were celebrating at the final whistle and it was not Saudi Arabia.
To compound his misery, Mancini appeared to exchange words with angry fans as he left the pitch following the end of the match. There is a lot of work to do.
