MUNICH, 15 June 2006 — Saudi Arabia’s hopes of gaining all three points in a Group H match were dashed when defender Radhi Jaidi headed an injury-time equalizer yesterday and Tunisia scrambled a 2-2 draw which left both teams waiting for an elusive World Cup win.
After a defensive mix-up, forward Ziad Jaziri put a high ball into the six-yard box which Jaidi nodded home.
Jaidi headed in Jaziri’s cross from 10 meters only minutes after Sami Al-Jaber had given Saudi Arabia the lead.
Al-Jaber, a 34-year-old veteran, picked up a through ball and slotted it past Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel with his first touch in the 84th minute.
Al-Jaber, who came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute, has now scored in three World Cups. He also scored in 1994 and 1998, but failed to find the net in 2002.
Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre said he was disappointed that his team had not been able to hold on to the lead.
“We don’t feel like we have opened the door,” Lemerre said. “We weren’t very assured. While the first goal gave us a boost, it was not enough.”
Tunisia took the lead in the 23rd minute when the Saudi defense failed to clear a corner and Jaziri dropped his left shoulder and sent the ball hard into the top-left corner of the net. Saudi Arabia slowly recovered their poise, and midfielder Nawaf Al-Temyat was at the center of the team’s increasingly dangerous moves.
The Saudis won a string of free kicks and corners, and Tunisia’s 40-year-old goalkeeper had to dive sharply to stop a free kick from Redha Takar in the 37th that was curling toward the left post.
The Saudis finally struck back with a smooth passing move in the 57th. Noor Mohammed got away from Tunisia defender David Jemmali down the right and crossed for Yasser Al-Qahtani to clip the ball past Boumnijel at the near post.
Both teams now have one point in Group H. Earlier yesterday, Spain beat Ukraine 4-0 in the other group match.
— With input from agencies
