Thailand booted out by Saudi Arabia in controversial fashion

Abdullah Al-Hamdan dramatically as the hero for the Saudi Arabians as he kept his cool to convert the only goal of the game from the spot in the 78th minute, but the man that at the center of the attention will be referee Ahmed Al-Kaf and perhaps the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the decision to award the penalty.

While the debate will likely rage on in days to come, the fact of the matter remains that it is Saudi Arabia who are through to the semi-finals - where they will meet either United Arab Emirates or Uzbekistan - and still have a chance of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Buoyed by a home crowd that has grown in support with each passing game, Thailand started the brighter of the two sides and were unlucky not to break the deadlock after just six minutes.

Finding space on the left side of the box, Suphanat Mueanta curled away a sublime effort that had Mohammed Al-Yami rooted to the spot - only to see it come back off the post.

Gradually, Saudi Arabia got into the contest and started creating chances of their own, and Al-Hamdan wastefully blazed over from five yards out with plenty of goal to aim for having been picked out by Sami Al-Najei's inch-percent pass in the 31st minute.

Four minutes later, Al-Hamdan had another sighting at goal - this time after being slipped in by Khalid Al-Ghannam - and while he at least hit the target this time with a firm right-footed effort, Thailand goalkeeper Korraphat Nareechan was equal to the task as he stuck out a strong right hand to parry to safety.

Overall, the contest was a cagey one and that was perhaps understandable given the high-stakes nature of it, but real drama happened with 16 minutes remaining when Al-Hamdan went down inside the area.

Al-Kaf initially awarded a freekick on the edge of the box for a tug on Al-Hamdan by Sorawit Panthong but, following a lengthy delay, changed his decision to a penalty upon advice from the VAR - without venturing to the sidelines for a second look at the pitch-side monitor.

The Thais looked incredulous but after the dust had improved, it was Al Hamdan who stepped up to the spot and made amends for his earlier miss - opting for power and smashing his penalty in off the underside of the bar.

Al-Hamdan held his nerve to convert from the spot and win it for Saudi Arabia.

Now needing a goal to keep alive their hopes, Thailand pushed forward with far greater intent and it naturally left gaps at the back, with Saudi Arabia having a host of chances to kill off the contest but failing to capitalize.

Nonetheless, the single goal proved to be enough for the win although the controversial manner in which they attained it will be debated aplenty.

STARTING XI

SAUDI ARABIA: Mohammed Al-Yami, Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tombakti, Abdulbassit Hindi, Khaled Dubaish, Ali Al-Hassan, Mukhtar Ali, Ayman Al-Khulaif (Abdulrahman Ghareeb 61 '), Sami Al-Najei, Khalid Al-Ghannam (Hussain) Al-Eisa 86 '), Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Firas Al-Buraikan 90 + 4').

THAILAND: Korraphat Nareechan, Meechok Marhasaranukun (Worachit Kanitsribampen 81 '), Thitawee Aksornsi, Saringkarn Promsupa, Thitathorn Aksornsri, Kritsada Kaman, Sorawit Panthong, Anon Amornlerdsak (Ben Davis 88'), Supachok Sarensat, Jalat, 73 Supachai Jaided.

Highlights

1′ – KICK OFF!

2′ – First chance falls for Thailand as forward Supachai Jaided intercepts a pass from Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Yami just outside the box and fires a shot which flies wide.

6′ – WOODWORK! Thailand have hit the woodwork and it is none other than the 17-year-old Suphanat Mueanta.

20′ – Twenty minutes played and no sings of a goal here yet except for that chance for Suphanat earlier.

25′ – THAILAND 0-0 SAUDI ARABIA

33′ – CHANCE for Saudi Arabia! Abdullah Al-Hamdan meets with a cross in front of the goal, but his effort is over the goal! That was a big chance for the Saudis.

41′ – Another chance for Saudi Arabia and this time it is Al Hamdan who creates it, but the finish from Ayman Al-Khulaif is disappointing.

HALF TIME: THAILAND 0-0 SAUDI ARABIA

46′ – SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!

56′ – Free kick in a promising position for Saudi Arabia, but it is wasted.

70′ – 20 minutes of regulation time left.

78′ – GOAL! Thailand 0-1 SAUDI ARABIA! 

Abdullah Al Hamdan makes no mistake from the penalty spot as he converts to give Saudis the lead in the quarterfinal!

90′ – Six minutes added on!

FULL TIME: THAILAND 0-1 SAUDI ARABIA! 

Thailand have all the reasons to be upset about the result as they are eliminated from the AFC U23 Championship 2020 after Abdullah Al Hamdan’s winner from a very controversial penalty.

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Hosts Thailand will take on Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinal of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship at the Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit on Saturday.

Akira Nishino’s Thailand collected four points in Group A with a win against Bahrain, a draw against Iraq and a loss to Australia to finish one point behind the Olyroos who progressed as the group winners and one more than Iraq who bowed out of the tournament playing three consecutive draws.

Meanwhile, Group B saw Saudi Arabia and Syria progressing while Qatar and Japan suffered early elimination.

Top two teams from each group progressed to the knockout stages of the fourth edition of the continental tournament. The semifinals are to be played on January 22 while the final will take place at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on January 26.

Expected lineup U23 Thailand vs U23 Saudi Arabia:

U23 Thailand (4-5-1): Korraphat Nareechan, Thitathorn Auksornsri, Shinnaphat Leeaoh, Supachai Chaided, Supachok Sarachart, Jaroensak, Meechok, Ben Davis, Supachai, Suphanat, Kritsada.

U23 Saudi Arabia (4-4-2): Mohammed Al Yami, Khalid Dubaysh, Hassan Al Tambakti, Abdulbaset Al-Hindi, Abdulelah Alamri, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Nasser Al Omran, Saud Abdulhamid, Mukhtar Ali, Ayman Al-Khulaif, Abdulrahman Al-Yami.

Prediction: U23 Thailand 2-1 U23 Saudi Arabia