Super Saudis sail past Thailand
bangkok — Mohammed Al Sahlawi and Salman Al Muwashar scored a goal each in Bangkok while Tanaboon Kesarat added an own-goal to give Saudi Arabia a 3-0 win over Thailand in Bangkok on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia leads Group B with 13 points, while Thailand is last with one.
Marcello Lippi earned his biggest win since taking over as coach of China’s national soccer team, leading his squad to a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier.
The coach, who led his native Italy to the World Cup title in 2006, was hired by China in October.
Yu Dabao scored the lone goal at Helong Stadium in Changsha with a header in the 34th minute, giving China only its second victory over South Korea in 32 matches.
“Of course, we had to take three points, but it is important for the future development of the players,” Lippi said. “We have to keep trying hard in the future.”
China spent much of the second half defending with the visitors piling on the pressure. Ki Seung-yeung and Ji Dong-won both went close for South Korea but could not find a way past China goalkeeper Zeng Cheng.
“China started strongly as we knew they would but while we had lots of possession in the second half, we could not get the goal,” South Korea coach Uli Stielike said.
Syria won its second match in Group A when Omar Kharbin scored a late penalty to beat Uzbekistan 1-0. Uzbekistan remains in third place in the group with nine points, while Syria has eight. —