Saudi Arabia Keep Hopes Alive With Japan Draw

Saitama: Saudi Arabia held off a dominant Japan to pick up a much-needed point yesterday as Herve Renard's side drew 0-0 with the Samurai Blue at Saitama Stadium in Group C of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26.

The Green Falcons picked up their fourth point of the window after defeating China 2-0 in Riyadh on Thursday and now sit on 10 points in the quest for the remaining automatic berth at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Japan continue to lead Group C having dropped points for only the second time in the campaign, the draw moving Hajime Moriyasu's already-qualified Samurai Blue onto 20 points from eight games.

Assured of a FIFA World Cup ticket, the hosts dominated despite the six changes Moriyasu made to the team that confirmed the nation's progress to an eighth consecutive finals with victory over Bahrain on Thursday.

It was Maeda who went closest to putting the home side in front, latching onto Kamada's incisive through ball in the ninth minute to thump a first-time shot beyond Nawaf Al Aqidi, only to rattle the left post.

The Saudis had little joy in the opening quarter of the game as Japan dominated, with Mohannad Al Shanqiti's header over Zion Suzuki's crossbar a rare sight of goal. Normal service resumed soon after when Takefusa Kubo's shot from distance cleared the bar. Junya Ito looked set to break the visitors' resistance with nine minutes remaining when Kamada's pass cut through the backline but the substitute winger's strike was tipped over the bar instinctively by Al Aqidi.

Hiroki Ito fired high over the bar from distance before Suzuki was called upon to thump clear off the toe of Turki Al Ammar after an errant backpass almost cost the Japanese, who closed out the game to maintain their unbeaten run in the preliminaries.

MENAFN26032025000063011010ID1109358276