Leaders-Mena magazine provided a live coverage of Thursday’s game between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in the first round of Group C of the AFC 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Fulltime: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Indonesia
Scorers: Musab Al-Juwayr 45+3′ / Sandy Walsh 19′
Yellow cards:
Calvin Verdonk, Muhammad Ferarri, Maarten Paes (Indonesia)
Sultan Al-Ghannam, Mohamed Kanno (Saudi Arabia)
90+11′ The second half ends.
90+8′ Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Kanno is shown a yellow card.
90+6′ Musab Al-Juwayr’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
90+3′ Feras Al-Brikan’s right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved straight down the middle. Saud Abdulhamid provided the assist.
90′ The referee signals 9 minutes of injury time.
89′ Indonesia’s Maarten Paes is shown the yellow card.
89’ Double subs for Saudi Arabia: Abbas Al-Hassan replaces Sultan Al-Ghannam; Fahad Al-Muwallad in for Salem Al-Dawsari
88’ Mohamed Kanno’s right-footed shot from outside the box is saved.
85’ Saudi Arabia’s Sultan Al-Ghannam receives a yellow card
83’ Indonesia’s Muhammad Ferarri shown a yellow card.
80’ Double subs for Indonesia: Egy Maulana Vikri replaces Ivar Jenner; Muhammad Ferarri in for Rizky Ramadhani
79′ Penalty saved. Salem Al-Dawsari’s right footed-shot saved by Indonesia goalkeeper in the bottom right corner
77′ Saudi Arabia awarded a penalty kick.
76′ First-half substitute Saud Abdulhamid hits the woodwork with a header from the centre of the box.
75′ With fifteen minutes remaining, the game remains level at 1-1.
74′ Salem Al-Dawsari connects with Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s cross, but his right-footed shot from outside the box goes high and wide to the left.
68’ Substitution for Indonesia: Asnawi Mangkualam replaces Sandy Walsh.
64′ Salem Al-Dawsari fires a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it sails high and wide to the left. Musab Al-Juwayr provided the assist.
60’ At the hour mark, the Green Falcons are pushing forward to double their lead, holding 64% possession.
59’ Substitution for Indonesia: Marselino Ferdinan in for injured Thom Haye.
58’ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Feras Al-Brikan replaces Abdullah Radif.
58’ Substitution for Indonesia: Shayne Pattynama in for Witan Sulaeman.
48′ Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box goes high and wide to the left, assisted by Musab Al-Juwayr.
46′ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Abdulrahman Ghareeb in for Abdullah Al-Khaibari.
46′ The second half is ongoing.
45+6′ First half ends.
(GOAL) Musab Al-Juwayr converts Mohamed Kanno’s cross with a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner.
45+3′ GOOOOOL.. Saudi Arabia equalize.
45′ The referee signals 5 minutes of injury time.
36’ Saud Abdulhamid’s right-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked, assisted by Hassan Altambakti.
33’ Substitution for Saudi Arabia: Saud Abdulhamid replaces Moteb Al-Harbi.
30’ Indonesia remains in the lead, despite Saudi Arabia controlling the game with 57% possession.
29’ Mohamed Kanno’s right-footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left, assisted by Sultan Al-Ghannam.
23′ Indonesia’s Calvin Verdonk recieves a yellow card
(GOAL) Sandy Walsh’s right-footed shot from the center of the box finds the bottom right corner, assisted by Ragnar Oratmangoen.
19′ GOOOOAL.. Indonesia score.
11’ Kanno plays an aerial ball forward from deep midfield, aiming for one of the two Saudi players in the Indonesia box, but the goalkeeper intercepts.
9’ Saudi Arabia’s winger Al-Dawsari makes a brilliant run up the left wing and attempts a cross into the Indonesia box, but a defender blocks the pass.
5′ Five minutes into the game, the Green Falcons are in control with 64% possession.
0′ The game is ongoing.
20:45 The players are warming up ahead of the clash.
20:00 Saudi Arabia’s starting XI: Mohammed Al-Owais – Ali Lajami, Hassan Tambakti, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Ali Al-Bulayhi – Moteb Al-Harbi, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohamed Kanno – Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Radif, Musab Al-Juwayr
خيارات مدربنا “@robymancio ” لمواجهة منتخب إندونيسيا 📝⬇. #السعودية_اندونيسيا pic.twitter.com/WBxXfT0D0s
— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) September 5, 2024
19:00 Saudi national team coach Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to victory at Euro 2020, is under increasing scrutiny to improve the Green Falcons’ performance after a disappointing start since leaving the Azzurri last year.
18:00 Saudi Arabia, heavy favorites to secure victory and maximum points in the group, last played in June, suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Jordan in the qualifiers.
17:00 The two teams share a long history, with Saudi Arabia dominating the head-to-head record. The Green Falcons have won 12 of their 14 encounters, while the remaining two ended in draws.
16:00 The Saudis aim to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup for the third consecutive time, which would bring their total appearances in the prestigious global competition to eight.
15:00 The Green Falcons have been drawn into Group C alongside Indonesia, Japan, Australia, China, and Bahrain. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round.
14:30 Saudi Arabia’s probable lineup: (4-3-3)
Mohammed Al-Owais – Saud Abdulhamid, Ali Lajami, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Moteb Al-Harbi (Saud Abdulhamid 33′) – Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari – Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdullah Al- Khaibari (Abdulrahman Ghareeb 46)
14:00 Saudi Arabia will begin their Asian World Cup qualifiers with a match against Indonesia, preparing for tougher challenges in a difficult group.
Saudi Arabia: Mohammed Al-Owais – Ali Lajami, Hassan Tambakti, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Ali Al-Bulayhi – Moteb Al-Harbi, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohamed Kanno – Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Radif (Feras Al-Brikan 58), Musab Al-Juwayr
Indonesia: Maarten Paes – Calvin Verdonk, Jay Idzes, Rizky Ridho, Sandy Walsh (Asnawi Mangkualam 68), Nathan Tjoe-A-On – Witan Sulaeman (Shayne Pattynama 58), Ragnar Oratmangoen, Ivar Jenner – Thom Haye (Marselino Ferdinan 59), Rafael Struick
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Check the match preview HERE.
