RIYADH, 19 February 2004 — Saudi Arabia, the Asian zone’s fourth qualifier for the last World Cup, made a smooth start to their bid to return to the finals with a 3-0 win over Indonesia in the Asian Zone Group Eight World Cup qualifiers played here yesterday.
Saudi Arabia were fluid in attack and solid in defense as they racked up three goals by the breather before easing up against the game Indonesians .
That Saudi Arabia would not be troubled yesterday was evident from the fast-paced start and the early fourth minute goal from Ibrahim Suwaid Al-Shahrani. He slotted in his second in the 38th minute as the Saudis, by then, had total midfield control.
The third goal by Yasser Al-Qahtani at the stroke of the interval put paid to any Indonesian challenge and the Kingdom rode out the second half on the 3-0 cushion they had built by the break.
South Korea, Japan and China got off to winning starts Wednesday on the long Asian march to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
But while South Korea, 2002 World Cup semifinalists and Asia’s most successful representative in football’s showcase, always looked in control in a 2-0 win over Lebanon, Japan and China left it late with single goal wins over Oman and Kuwait.
Iran meanwhile had a tougher challenge against Qatar but finished 3-1 winners.
The United Arab Emirates gave Thailand an early headache with a 1-0 victory in El Ain.
In Suwon, goals in each half from Cha Du-ii and Cho-Byung-kuk handed all three points to the Koreans, who are bidding for their sixth straight appearance in the World Cup finals.
However, the Lebanese could have opened the score in the 30th minute when Mahmoud Chahoud was fouled in the area. Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae easily smothered the Mohammad Kassas spot kick.
Cha Du-ri, who plays for Frankfurt in the German league, headed in a cross from Lee Young-Pyo, who plays for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
Cho Byung-kuk doubled the score in the 50th minute but, with 24 shots, Korea’s Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho was disappointed with the finishing.
“We could have done better especially in front of goal,” said Coelho, who took over from Guus Hiddink, the hero of South Korea’s 2002 World Cup campaign.
The victory put South Korea second on goal difference in Group 7 behind Vietnam, 4-0 winners over the Maldives.
Japan needed a goal from substitute Tatsuhiko Kubo three minutes into added time to claim a 1-0 win over Oman at the Saitama Stadium north of Tokyo.
The Asian champions had promised all-out attack but were frustrated for long periods by poor finishing and an outstanding display from Oman keeper Ali Al Habsi.
Japan’s Brazilian coach Zico was a relieved man but he revealed he had been confident Kubo would make the difference.
“I was sure that Kubo could defeat their defenders,” Zico said. “I told my players to go to the space that Kubo’s movement would make. “My players didn’t forget that. They were determined to win the game and get the three points until the last three, two, one seconds,” he added.
Japan are level on points with India at the top of Group 3. The South Asian minnows were surprise 1-0 winners over Singapore.
The story of defeat for Middle East teams continued in Group 4, where China defeated 10-man Kuwait thanks to a 75th minute goal by veteran striker Hao Haidong.
Hao’s superb play throughout paid off 15 minutes from time as he headed home a deep cross from by midfielder Zhao Hunzhe after Kuwait keeper Shehab Aha Kankune came off his line but failed to punch clear.
The win marked the first for China’s Dutch coach Arie Haan, who has taken up the challenge of leading China to the World Cup again following the nation’s first appearance in the tournament in 2002.
Kuwait failed to get a shot on goal in the entire match, sitting back and ultimately paying the price. Their night ended in shame when Fahad Al-Hamad was sent off for spitting on Chinese captain Li Weifeng.
A total of 32 teams have been divided into eight groups in the first round of Asian qualifying, with winners from each group advancing to the second round, vying for at most five places in the Germany finals.
Pandev Strike Seals Macedonia
Victory Over Bosnia
In Skopje, a first-half goal from Goran Pandev gave Macedonia a deserved 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly yesterday.
Midfielder Pandev fired the ball into the top corner of the net from 10 meters in the 22nd minute after good work by Artim Sakiri and Dragan Cadikovski.
Pandev failed to capitalize on two other clear scoring opportunities in the first half when he was one on one with Bosnia keeper Almir Tolja. Despite missing several key players through injury, Macedonia dominated the game and created a host of other chances. The Bosnians struggled in attack, though forward Elvir Bolic brought a superb save out of Macedonia keeper Jane Nikoloski with a fine header.
