Results of friendly matches for Gulf teams in preparation for the Asian Cup and the double qualifiers
The Saudi national team lost to South Korea 0-1 in the friendly match as part of the two teams’ preparation for the upcoming important continental tournaments, while the UAE defeated Costa Rica 4-1.
These matches are part of the ongoing preparations for participation in the joint Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup, in addition to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 finals.
In the first match, the Saudi national team, led by its new Italian coach Roberto Mancini, suffered its second loss in a row.
The Saudi national team lost its first match under Mancini’s supervision to Costa Rica 1-3 in a friendly match, at the same stadium last Friday.
“Al-Akhdar” missed the opportunity to score when Abdullah Al-Hamdan followed up with a strong cross ball that touched the defender and went out (18) before Nasser Al-Dosari shot a powerful shot from a direct free kick that goalkeeper Kim Seong caught brilliantly (20).
Salem Al-Dosari wasted a clear opportunity when he faced the goalkeeper who blocked his ball (27), and despite the “green” advantage, the Korean team succeeded in scoring when Cho Kyu-sung capitalized on a wrong ball from Ali Al-Bulaihi and followed it up with his header into the goal to the right of goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Owais (32).
The Saudi team almost achieved a draw had it not been for the intervention of the Korean defense, which intercepted the path of Salem Al-Dosari’s ball (80).
In a second match, Portuguese Paulo Bento started his career as coach of the UAE national team in an ideal manner after leading it to a friendly victory over Costa Rica 4-1, in Zagreb.
Yahya Al-Ghassani (16 and 53), Caio Canedo (23) and Ali Salmeen (38) scored the UAE goals, while Julio Cascante (64) scored Costa Rica’s goal.
The UAE’s early pressure resulted in opening the scoring through Al-Ghassani after he exchanged the ball with Lima (16). Costa Rica had barely recovered from the shock of the beginning, before it received the second goal through Canedo, taking advantage of Saleh’s pass (23).
The UAE scored the third goal with a long shot from Ali Salmeen that deceived Keylor Navas, who was advancing from his goal (38), then the fourth came through Al-Ghassani after he was alone with the goalkeeper (53). Costa Rica closed the gap with defender Cascante’s header after a cross from Brandon Aguilera (64).
On the other hand, the Qatar national team tied with Russia 1-1 in a friendly match at Al Janoub Stadium in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Ahmed Alaa scored for the Qatari team (70) and defender Alexander Soldatenkov equalized for the Russian team in the last minute of regular time (90).
The Qatari team appeared better than in the previous confrontation against Kenya, when it lost 1-2 on Thursday.
The Qatar national team had the advantage during the first half, then the hosts continued their advantage in the second half and advanced the score with a special goal after Hammam Al-Amin’s cross, which Ahmed Alaa flew to and put into the net (70).
The first Omani national football team lost to its American host by 4 unanswered goals, in the friendly match that lasted until the early hours of Wednesday morning.