Saudi Arabia secured a vital 3-2 victory over Indonesia in their Asian World Cup qualifier, while Qatar and Oman played out a goalless draw as the fourth round of preliminaries began.
A double from Feras Al-Brikan proved decisive for the Saudis, boosting their chances of reaching the 2026 finals in North America. The result places them in a strong position ahead of their next match against Iraq in Jeddah on Tuesday, where a win will guarantee their qualification.
Al-Brikan Brace Edges Five-Goal Thriller
Indonesia took an early lead in the Group B encounter when Kevin Diks converted an 11th-minute penalty after a handball by Hassan Al-Tambakhti. However, the advantage was short-lived, as Saleh Abu Al-Shamat equalised just six minutes later with a well-placed strike from the edge of the area.
The hosts went ahead before half-time through another penalty. After a VAR review for a foul on Al-Brikan, the forward stepped up to score from the spot. He extended Saudi Arabia’s lead in the 62nd minute, reacting quickest to a rebound from a saved shot to fire the ball past goalkeeper Maarten Paes.
Indonesia set up a tense finish when Diks scored his second penalty of the night with two minutes remaining, awarded for another handball inside the box. A red card for Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Kanno in injury time added to the late pressure, but the home side held on for the crucial win.
Qatar Held by Oman in Doha
In the opening match of Group A, hosts Qatar were held to a 0-0 draw by a resilient Oman side, a result that hinders both nations’ ambitions for automatic qualification.
In a game with few clear opportunities, Qatar captain Akram Afif had the best chance to secure a victory. Early in the second half, Afif was presented with a clear sight of goal but uncharacteristically sent his shot wide of the post. Qatar controlled much of the possession but could not break down the organised Omani defence.
The draw leaves the group finely balanced. Oman will next face the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, while Qatar will play the Emiratis on Tuesday. The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, with the runner-up entering a playoff against the second-placed team from Group B.
Six nations from the Asian confederation, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, have already claimed their spots at the expanded 48-team finals. Asia has eight guaranteed berths, with a ninth potentially available through an intercontinental playoff.