FOOTBALL – SAAD Haqawi’s second half strike earned Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Jordan in their AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 Group B opener at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium yesterday.
The win sees Saudi Arabia leading the standings following the earlier 1-1 draw between Iraq and North Korea.
Both sides started cautiously but Jordan almost found a way through in the seventh minute after Abdallah Al Mnayyes cut the ball back into the box, forcing a clearance from Saleh Barnawi before Mohammad Taha pulled his effort just wide of the right post.
Saudi Arabia barely troubled the Jordanian defence, wasting an attempt four minutes later with Ziyad Al Ghamdi ballooning his free-kick.
Jordan’s Ibrahim Sabra should have done better just before the half-hour mark when Al Mnayyes delivered a dangerous cross, only for the forward to mis-time his header as the tie remained level going into the break.
Saudi Arabia only needed a minute after the restart to take the lead, Talal Haji flicking the ball on for Haqawi, who recovered well after seeing his initial right-footed shot blocked by Jordan keeper Salameh Salman to slot home with his left.
Jordan almost conceded again two minutes later but Salman was alert to deny Farhah Al Shamrani and Rakan Al Ghamdi in quick succession.
Saleh Fraij came close to levelling the score for Jordan 10 minutes later when his long-range effort took a deflection off Saleh Barnawi, forcing Saudi Arabia keeper Hamed Al Shanqiti into a fine save.
Jordan will look to make amends on Matchday Two on Sunday when they face North Korea, while Saudi Arabia take on Iraq.
Meanwhile, North Korea came back from a goal down to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Iraq in another Group B opener at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium.
Substitute Kim Jin Song came to the East Asian side’s rescue in the 62nd minute, cancelling out Aymen Luay’s first half opener to force a share of the spoils.
Iraq showed their intent as early as the second minute when Mustafa Qabeel threaded a cross into the box for Karrar Jaafar, whose shot was blocked, while Muslim Mousa failed to find the target after angling his header wide.
North Korea almost found a way through four minutes later when Kim Se Jin weaved his way past the Iraqi defence at the edge of the area but shot wide from a tight angle.
The East Asian side had another look at goal in the 18th minute after Hong Kil Ryong’s goal kick was headed on by Choe Kuk to Ri Jong Dok, whose tame shot was easily collected by keeper Wisam Ali.
Iraq then seized control of the game in the 32nd minute after Karrar Jaafar delivered a pin-point cross for Luay to strike home the opener into the bottom left corner.
Iraq survived a late surge from North Korea, who saw Choe Kuk head the ball over the bar in the 41st minute, before Choe Kuk unleashed a stinging shot from just inside the box, which was denied by the left post.
The West Asian side came close to doubling their advantage just a minute into the restart when Qabeel cut into the box after losing his marker, only to find Hong too much of an obstacle as he hit his grounded effort just wide of the right post.
Iraq were in ascendancy as they kept Hong on his toes with Sidad Haji testing the North Korea custodian from distance at the hour mark.
North Korea, however, roared back and drew level in the 62nd minute after Kim Jin Song pounced on a parry from Ali to strike the ball into the top left corner of the net.
The East Asian side almost caught Iraq by surprise seven minutes later after Kim Se Jin’s through ball for Hong Paek Hyon almost proved calamitous after Ali conceded possession to a surging Kim Jin Song, whose shot across the face of the goal was cleared away by Ali Mokhalad.
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