SINGAPORE, 8 October 2003 — Saudi Arabia advanced to the final round of the Asian zone Olympics qualifying tournament with an easy 3-0 victory over Singapore at the Jalan Besar Stadium here yesterday.
The Saudis rested many of their best players in the second half of their match safe in the knowledge they would advance past the second round after winning the first leg against the Asian minnows 7-0 in Riyadh on Oct. 1.
Goals by Naji Majrashi, stand-in skipper Abdullatif Al Ghannom and Saleh Bashir Aldosari were enough for the visitors to cruise through the game, which saw plenty of rough play from the home side.
Singapore’s Razaleigh ibn Khalik was sent off with 25 minutes left in the game for a flying tackle on Aldosari, who needed treatment to his ankle and was soon substituted.
The home side made it clear right from the kick-off that they were in no mood for another whipping, tackling hard and crowding the Saudis out of their penalty box.
But a defensive error in the 14th minute allowed Majrashi to give the Saudis the lead.
Another melee on the stroke of half-time gave Al Ghannom the chance to double the lead, which he took.
And when Aldosari scored with a pile-driver from just out of the box 12 minutes after the interval, another big score looked in the making.
The Saudi team management, however, chose to give their bench a run-in and aside from substitute striker Hussain Al Zaindeen twice smashing the ball into the side-netting from close range, the visitors’ threat was diminished.
