MELBOURNE: Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia will decide which team joins China as the Group B quarterfinalist at the Asian Cup on Sunday. China, which has already sealed top spot in the group, will look to win its third straight match to open the tournament, for the first time.
The winner of this Melbourne match will play South Korea, winner from Group A.
Odil Ahmedov scored Uzbekistan’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss to China on Wednesday, while Igor Sergeev headed in to give the team a 1-0 win over North Korea in their opener.
Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov said his side was the better team in the first half against China, but dropped off in the second half.
“I want to congratulate China. Now we must try and beat Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Saudi Arabia produced a more definitive result against North Korea on Wednesday, with Mohammed Al-Sahlawi scoring two of the team’s four goals in a 4-1 win in which Naif Hazazi and Nawaf Al-Abid also got on the board.
Saudi Arabia coach Cosmin Olaroiu said that confidence-building victory boded well for its must-win match against Uzbekistan.
“I’m happy we won the game and also we had a good performance,” Olaroiu said after the match. “Now we have to forget it quickly to prepare for the next game against Uzbekistan.”
This is the fourth Asian Cup meeting between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, with the Saudis winning two of the previous three and Uzbekistan one.
CHINA VS. NORTH KOREA: A win over North Korea in Canberra will complete a perfect run through the group stage for China.
They have won their opening two games at the Asian Cup for the first time since 1988 but have never made it three.
China coach Alain Perrin was already celebrating his team’s group win after beating Uzekistan in Brisbane this week.
“We played a very beautiful match,” Perrin said after his side’s 2-1 win. “Now we can move to the knockout stage in the first ranking of the group. It’s fantastic.”
Ryang Yong Gi opened the scoring for North Korea early against Saudi Arabia. But in the end the North Koreans were outclassed 4-1.
North Korea has now lost eight and drawn two of their past 10 Asian Cup matches, and scored just three goals in their last nine games of the tournament.
However, one of North Korea’s three Asian Cup wins was a 2-1 victory over China in 1990.
China has won all three matches between the two teams since 2005.
Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan to decide quarters spot
Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan to decide quarters spot
Real Madrid victory in Super Cup semi-final sets up fourth consecutive El Clásico in Saudi Arabia
- Early Valverde rocket set the tone for a physical encounter in front of a packed Al-Inma Stadium
- 55,651 fans attended the match, topping Barcelona-Athletic Bilbao’s crowd by more than 5,000
JEDDAH: While Wednesday saw a sea of blue and red take over Al-Inma Stadium, Thursday belonged almost entirely to the colour white. The second semi-final of the 2026 Spanish Super Cup pitted Madrid Derby rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid against each other in a fiercely contested encounter that ignited within the opening two minutes and ended with a 2-1 victory to Real Madrid.
In the first minute of the game, Real Madrid won a free kick from a position that appeared harmless, but Federico Valverde had other ideas. The Uruguayan unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that flew into the net, sending the stadium into raptures almost immediately.
Despite the early breakthrough, Real Madrid did not dominate proceedings. Atlético controlled much of the shot count, pushing relentlessly as they attempted to overcome the forged “home” advantage enjoyed by their city rivals in Jeddah.
That advantage was not driven solely by Saudi supporters. Ahead of kick-off, official broadcaster Thmanyah Sports got hold of a Real Madrid fan from Iraq who praised the organisation of the event and thanked Saudi Arabia for providing fans from across the region the opportunity to watch their team live.
Atlético didn’t plan on sending those fans home with a smile. They forced Thibaut Courtois into action on multiple occasions, with his save from a corner mid-way into the first half proving key in preserving Real’s lead.
Real did get close to doubling their advantage in the 27th minute when Rodrygo found himself through on goal, executing a trademark Ronaldo chop to beat his marker before being denied by Jan Oblak.
Atlético resumed their push after the break. In the 49th minute, they looked to find Julián Álvarez with a dangerous cross, but Antonio Rüdiger reacted sharply to step in and clear.
Once again, it was Real Madrid’s individual quality that made the difference. Valverde split the defence with a perfectly weighted through ball, releasing Rodrygo, who calmly slotted past Oblak in the 55th minute.
Atlético responded with increased vigour almost immediately. A slick move down the right flank culminated in a cross from Giuliano Simeone, which Alexander Sørloth powered home beyond Raúl Asencio in the 58th minute to bring the contest back to life.
As Atlético pushed for an equaliser, the Real Madrid fans rallied behind their team with chants familiar to Jeddah. Borrowing from one of Al-Ahli’s most popular anthems — one that engulfed Middle Eastern football in recent years — the crowd sang in unison: “For Real we came, from every city.”
Atlético were not fazed, as they came agonisingly close to levelling soon after. Antoine Griezmann produced a spectacular overhead kick from close range, only for Courtois to make another vital save. Moments later, Marcos Llorente broke through on the right once more, but his effort drifted wide.
Llorente continued to threaten, curling another attempt — this time from outside the box — but once again failed to find the target as Atlético searched desperately for a way back into the game.
Ultimately, Real Madrid managed to emerge unscathed, as they held on for the 2-1 victory.
Sunday will see the Al-Inma Stadium host once again, as Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in the fourth consecutive El Clásico Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona won the first encounter in 2023, followed by a 4-1 victory by Real in 2024, before Barcelona rallied to a 5-2 victory in the 2025 edition.
