RIYADH, 2 September 2004 — Yasser Al-Qahtani clinched the equalizer in the second half for Saudi Arabia as they drew with visitors Kuwait 1-1 in the friendly international at the King Fahd International Stadium last night.

Both the teams are preparing for the qualifiers for the World Cup.

Both the teams showed flashes of brilliance with Kuwait gaining the upper hand in the first half. It was during this period of domination that they scored. Ali Abdul Rida cashed in on an opportunity from a corner kick to score the lone Kuwaiti goal.

Kuwait, though still laying an accent on the attack, fell back to defend this slender goal to allow the Saudis territory to string their moves.

Hussain Abdul Ghani nearly scored before the break when his shot from a set piece, from just outside the box, was brilliantly cleared by the Kuwaiti goalkeeper.

Hussain proved the most dangerous forward when he time and again threatened. But on the occasion he was put clear just before the interval, he failed to be on target. Kuwait changed sides with a 1-0 edge.

The Saudis shuffled players in the midfield and the defense and this proved to give them an extra nip. Yasser Al-Qahtani’s swift foray after the break was thwarted at the goal and a few minutes later, he was once again left clear following an Ahmad Al-Dukhi high ball. And this time his header bulged the Kuwaiti net to put the Saudis on level terms.

The two chances that came Kuwait’s way was when Ahmed Al Shimmery, the best Kuwaiti striker, nearly stunned the vociferous crowd with a pile-driver that thudded the bar. Then Nawaf Al Hamadan dodged the Saudi defense only to find Saudi keeper Mohammad Al-Khojaliy up to the task of collecting his shot.

Saudi Talal Al-Mishal then had a gilt-edged chance to secure the winner in the dying moments, but once again the shot was off target, leaving the teams to share the goals and honors.

Ferguson Will Look After

Rooney, Says Neville

In St. Albans, England, Manchester United will bring the best out of teenage striker Wayne Rooney both on and off the pitch, according to their England defender Gary Neville. Reuters adds.

Rooney, who made frontpage tabloid newspaper headlines recently after admitting he had visited massage parlors, completed a 27 million pounds ($48.52 million) move from Everton to United on Tuesday. Neville, a senior figure in the Old Trafford dressing room, told reporters yesterday: “At Manchester United, there are certain things expected of you as a footballer on and off the pitch and you have to adhere by those rules all the time.

“Wayne Rooney won’t have a problem with that. “I’ve known him for a year with England and he’s a great lad to have around... at 18 years of age he’s got such a fantastic talent. I just hope he’s able to stay clear of injury and develop at United in the way I think everybody in the country wants to see him develop.”

Neville, who is preparing for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland, said Rooney was in safe hands at Old Trafford and would be eased into the first-team squad when he is fully recovered from a foot injury suffered at Euro 2004.

“I think he’s coming to the right club to be looked after in terms of management of his football career, although in fairness to David Moyes at Everton he’s managed him pretty well too.

“He hasn’t over-played him, he hasn’t flogged him, he’s always used him at the right times and given him rests.”