Leaders-Mena magazine provided a live coverage for Tuesday’ game between Japan and Saudi Arabia in the eighth round of the Asian 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Fulltime: Japan 0-0 Saudi Arabia
Lineups:
Japan: Z. Suzuki; Y. Sugawara (Junya Ito 62), K. Itakura, H. Ito; K. Takai, W. Endō (Reo Hatate 73), D. Kamada (Takumi Minamino 83), A. Tanaka; T. Kubo (Ritsu Doan 62), D. Maeda (Kyogo Furuhashi 73), K. Nakamura
Saudi Arabia: Nawaf Al-Aqidi; Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti (Ali Majrashi 46), Hassan Tambakti, Ali Lajami, Jehad Thakri – Nawaf Al-Boushal, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Musab Al-Juwayr (Turki Al-Ammar 61); Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan (Abdullah Al-Hamdan 92), Marwan Al-Sahafi (Ziyad Al-Johani 61)
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Fulltime
90+3′ Second half ends.
90+2′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Al-Hamdan replaces Firas Al-Buraikan.
90′ The fourth official signals 2 minutes of added time.
88′ Japan’s Hiroki Ito breaks free, but his strike from outside the box goes too high.
87′ A throw in for Japan on the right side.
83′ Substitution for Japan: Takumi Minamino replaces Daichi Kamada
83′ Saudi Arabia keeper Nawaf Al Aqidi wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′ Referee Ahmad Al-Ahli signals a corner kick for Japan, conceded by Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
78′ Japan win a corner kick , conceded by Nawaf Al-Boushal.
77′ The referee signals a throw in for Saudi Arabia in the defensive half
73′ Double subs for Japan: Reo Hatate replaces Wataru Endō; Kyogo Furuhashi comes in for Daizen Maeda
72′ Saudi Arabia are trying to create something here
69′ It’s a goal kick for Saudi Arabia
67′ The referee signals a free kick for Saudi Arabia in the defensive half
62′ Double subs for Japan: Junya Ito replaces Yukinari Sugawara; Ritsu Doan comes in for Takefusa Kubo
61′ Double subs for Saudi Arabia: Turki Al-Ammar replaces Musab Al-Juwayr; Ziyad Al-Johani comes in for Marwan Al-Sahafi
60′ At the hour mark, the match remains deadlocked, though Japan dominate with 76% possession.
57′ Japan are dangerously pushing forward
55′ Throw-in for Japan close to the penalty box.
52′ Japan awarded a throw in in Saudi Arabia territory
47′ The referee signals a free kick for Saudi Arabia.
46′ Second half begins
46′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Ali Majrashi replaces Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti
Halftime
45+2′ First half ends
45′ The fourth official announces 1 minute only of added time.
44′ Corner kick for Japan, conceded by Nawaf Al-Boushal.
41′ Japan drive forward at breakneck speed but are pulled up for offside.
37′ Throw in for Japan.
37′ Goal kick for Saudi Arabia
35′ Saudi Arabia are in control of the game.
33′ Al-Shanqeeti awarded a free kick in the defensive half
31′ A throw in for Saudi Arabia in the attacking half
29′ It’s a goal kick for the Saudis.
27′ Al-Aqidi makes another brilliant save to block Takefusa Kubo’s left-footed shot from outside the box.
26′ Corner kick for Japan
23′ Muhannad Al-shanqeeti gets up for a header from a difficult angle on the right but cannot keep the ball on target.
22′ Nawaf Al-Boushal wins a free kick for Saudi Arabia in the defensive half.
20′ Saudi Arabia win a free kick in their own half.
20′ WHAT A SAVE! Japan’s Daizen Maeda forces goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi to produce a brilliant save to block his clos range shot.
19′ Throw in for Saudi Arabia in the attacking half
18′ Saudi Arabia are pushing forward
16′ Japan awarded a throw in in the attacking half
15′ Saudi Arabia win a throw in in their own half.
14′ Goal kick for Saudi Arabia
12′ Faisal Al-Ghamedi wins a free kick for Saudi Arabia in the defensive half.
11′ Corner kick for Japan
9′ Japan’s Daizen Maeda hits the right post with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box.
7′ Throw in for Japan in Saudi Arabia territory
5′ Japan are in control of the game.
1′ First half begins
11:00 Japan defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in their previous encounter in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers back in October 2024.
10:00 the Green Falcons enter the game in the third place of Group C with 9 points, a point less from second-placed Australia, while Japan have already secured a berth in next month’s finals after topping the group with 19 points.
09:00 Saudi Arabia will take on Japan in the eighth round of the Asian 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, aiming for a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Venue: Saitama Stadium 2002 (Saitama, Japan)
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
Check the match preview HERE
