Match report

Saudi Arabia Defeats China 1-0 in World Cup Qualification Asia

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
1–0
FT
China
China
Mar 20, 2025

In a tightly contested World Cup Qualification Asia match, Saudi Arabia emerged victorious against China with a narrow 1-0 win. Salem Al Dawsari scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute, putting Saudi Arabia ahead and securing the win despite a red card for China's Lin Liangming in the first half.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Saudi Arabia 1-0 China
  • • Goal: Salem Al Dawsari (50')
  • • Red Card: Lin Liangming (45')
  • • Yellow Card: Wang Shangyuan (21')
  • • Cancelled Goal: Faisal Al Ghamdi (39')

Lineups

Saudi Arabia

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 1 N. Al Aqidi (G)
  • 12 S. Abdulhamid (D)
  • 17 H. Tambakti (D)
  • 14 H. Kadesh (D)
  • 13 N. Boushal (D)
  • 15 A. Yahya (M)
  • 16 F. Al Ghamdi (M)
  • 6 N. Al Dawsari (M)
  • 10 S. Al Dawsari (M)
  • 7 M. Al Juwayr (F)
  • 9 F. Al Buraikan (F)

Substitutes

  • 21 A. M. Yousef H.
  • 22 A. Al Kassar
  • 20 A. Al Salem
  • 3 S. Al Mousa
  • 19 T. Al Ammar
  • 2 M. Al Shanqiti
  • 23 Z. Al Johani
  • 8 M. Al Sahafi
  • 4 A. Lajami
  • 11 A. Al Hamdan
  • 5 J. Thakri
  • 18 M. Al Saad

China

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 14 Wang Dalei (G)
  • 3 Gao Zhunyi (D)
  • 2 Browning Tyias (D)
  • 16 Jiang Shenglong (D)
  • 4 Li Lei (D)
  • 6 Wang Shangyuan (M)
  • 20 Xie Wenneng (M)
  • 19 Cao Yongjing (M)
  • 10 Wei Shihao (M)
  • 11 Lin Liangming (M)
  • 9 Zhang Yuning (F)

Substitutes

  • 18 Han Pengfei
  • 23 Abduweli Behram
  • 17 Serginho
  • 1 Yan Junling
  • 12 Liu Dianzuo
  • 21 Wang Haijian
  • 5 Wei Zhen
  • 15 Yang Zexiang
  • 22 Wang Ziming
  • 8 Y. Li
  • 13 H. Hu
  • 7 Xu Haoyang

Timeline

  1. China
    21' China Card · Yellow Card
    Wang Shangyuan

    Foul

  2. Saudi Arabia
    39' Saudi Arabia Var · Goal cancelled
    Faisal Al Ghamdi
  3. China
    45'+1 China Card · Red Card
    Lin Liangming

    Foul

  4. China
    45' China subst · Substitution 1
    Off: T. Browning · On: Han Pengfei
  5. China
    46' China subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Cao Yongjing · On: Abduweli Behram
  6. China
    46' China subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Gao Zhunyi · On: Zexiang Yang
  7. Saudi Arabia
    50' Saudi Arabia Goal · Normal Goal
    Salem Al Dawsari · Assist: S. Abdulhamid
  8. Saudi Arabia
    54' Saudi Arabia subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Abdulhamid · On: Muhannad Al Shanqiti
  9. China
    63' China subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Zhang Yuning · On: Y. Li
  10. China
    63' China subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Shihao Wei · On: Xu Haoyang
  11. Saudi Arabia
    72' Saudi Arabia subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Musab Al Juwayr · On: Abdullah Al Hamdan
  12. Saudi Arabia
    73' Saudi Arabia subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Feras Al Brikan · On: A. Al Salem
  13. Saudi Arabia
    85' Saudi Arabia subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Nasser Al Dawsari · On: Marwan Al Sahafi
  14. China
    90'+1 China subst · Substitution 6
    Off: Xie Wenneng · On: H. Hu

Match Stats

Stat Saudi Arabia China
Fouls 4 9
Pass Accuracy 91% 68%
Offsides 5 0
Red Cards 0 1
Total Shots 19 4
Corners 5 3
Total Passes 743 187
Yellow Cards 0 1
Blocked Shots 4 4
Shots on Target 7 0
xG — —
Shots off Target 8 0
Possession 80% 20%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 677 128
Shots Inside Box 16 3
Saves 0 7
Shots Outside Box 3 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Faisal Al Ghamdi's goal was cancelled by VAR in the 39th minute, maintaining a scoreless tie.
  • ▸ Salem Al Dawsari's goal in the 50th minute broke the deadlock and shifted the momentum in favor of Saudi Arabia.
  • ▸ Lin Liangming's red card in the 45th minute left China with ten men for the remainder of the match, significantly impacting their chances.