The Saudi national team scored a goal in each half to win 2-0 over 9 players from Kyrgyzstan in the Asian Football Cup on Sunday, ensuring qualification to the round of 16 before the final round of the group stage.
Coach Roberto Mancini’s team topped Group F with six points, two points ahead of second-placed Thailand and 5 points ahead of third-placed Oman.
The Kyrgyz national team remained at the bottom of the group without points.
Mohammed Kanno scored the lead goal for Saudi Arabia in the 35th minute, then Faisal Al-Ghamdi doubled the lead in the 84th minute.
⚽️🔥 The Saudi national team leads 1-0 over Kyrgyzstan through Muhammad Kannou#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Kyrgyzstan_Saudi Arabia#AsianCup2023 #Asiancup #Qatar2023 pic.twitter.com/oDxukmjtSF
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 21, 2024
The Kyrgyzstan national team played with ten players from the ninth minute after Izar Akhmatov was sent off following a violent intervention on Sami Al-Naji, before playing with nine players from the 52nd minute after Merck Kimi Byrne was sent off following a violent intervention on Hassan Timbukti.
🟥 The second red card.. Things are getting more difficult for the Kyrgyz national team
The Kyrgyz national team will play with only 9 players after Merck’s Kimi Byrne was sent off#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Kyrgyzstan_Saudi Arabia#AsianCup2023 #Asiancup #Qatar2023 pic.twitter.com/zIpqPpja3v
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 21, 2024
Kanu opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in the 35th minute after receiving a cross pass from Saud Abdel Hamid, which Kanu converted into the net with a shot from close range.
Al-Ghamdi scored the second goal in the 85th minute, 7 minutes after coming on as a substitute, with a shot from outside the penalty area, which the goalkeeper missed with his fist and it went into the net.
⚽️🔥 Faisal Al-Ghamdi enhances the progress of the Saudi Green#Asia Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Kyrgyzstan_Saudi Arabia#AsianCup2023 #Asiancup #Qatar2023 pic.twitter.com/0Zggfxf3zx
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 21, 2024
Saudi Arabia will conclude its matches in the group stage by facing Thailand on Thursday, while the Kyrgyz national team will meet its counterpart Oman on the same day.