AsianCup2023 | Group F : Kyrgyz Republic 0 - 2 Saudi Arabia

At the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, it's the second Group F game of the day as the Kyrgyz Republic take on a much fancied Saudi Arabia team. The Central Asian side bounced back from an opening defeat to qualify from their Asian Cup group back in 2019. But their efforts to repeat that this time around would be hugely boosted if they can get a result against Saudi Arabia today. Kyrgyz Republic coach Stefan Tarkovic encouraged his players to draw on the successes of Iraq and Syria, who both did well to claim points against higher ranked opposition recently. But his side are currently bottom of the group. Saudi Arabia needed an injury time winner to edge past Oman in their opener. Defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was the unlikely hero who struck with almost 97 minutes on the clock to seal a 2-1 win. Another victory today will secure safe passage to the round of 16. Oh, and Sami Almadji was stopped very abruptly by Azar Akhmatov there. A very heavy challenge. The caution comes out, but the referee will surely check this on the VAR screen. The yellow card is going to be rescinded here. It's an early red for the Kyrgyz Republic and a tough job. Just got a whole lot tougher with just nine minutes on the clock here. Mohamed Albreik looking to take immediate advantage with the free kick. Tokutayev, the goalkeeper, just about able to tip that over the top. And it was so important for the Kyrgyz Republic not to fall behind straight away. Albreik into a good position. He's up across for Firaz Albreikhan. What a chance he had there. A header as free as you could ask for in the middle, but he glanced it wider, the goal. Lovely passing now from Saudi Arabia. Abdullilah Almalki with the shot onto the post. The chance is still alive, though. Back in it comes for Mohamed Kano to steer it home. Saudi Arabia take the lead in some style. Spare a thought for Almalki. So nearly a wonder goal from his boot. In the end, it's an elaborate pass for Abdul Hamid to tee up the opening goal. Merck, the teenager with the set piece for the Kyrgyz Republic, floats it in for the defender, Kozubaev. Got a toe on it, but nothing more. The first little glimpse of goal for the team, though, and in fairness, they've held up really well after going a man down. 1-0 at halftime, Saudi Arabia lead, but just how tired will their opponents be after the break? Saudi Arabia looking for the safe pass backwards. There was a foul in the middle there. It was Kimi Buenmerk who went in on Hassan Timbakti. And for the second time, the yellow will be upgraded to a red. The Kyrgyz Republic will go down to nine men, and that'll have consequences for this game and the next as well. Our break with the corner curling away from goal. Kano winding up the header. Away it goes off the post. It looks like Tokutayev was right in there with the smallest of touches. Heavy on the move. He's got break on the overlap. It's cut back into the area, still loose. Zagrebaev, the defender, manages to scramble it away off the forward. Saudi Arabia threatening, but they've not had many moves as decisive as that one today. It's still just 1-0. It's over to Faisal Al-Hamdi. He's going to look up and try his luck here. And fortune really was in his favour as it finds a way into the net. The keeper, Tokutayev, who's made a number of excellent saves today, just misread the flight of the ball. It might have taken a tiny touch on the way through. Saudi Arabia finally find the second goal they were after. The free kick in the 10th minute of stoppage time. It's hacked away off the goal line. Shamazaev with the clearance, and that sums up the defensive efforts of the Kyrgyz Republic today. Well, Saudi Arabia have got the job done in the end, but in all honesty, they've not done too much more than that today. Even at 11 v 9, they've laboured before extending the lead. And for the Kyrgyz Republic, the margin of defeat means that they might just have held on to a chance of finishing as one of the best third place sides. 2-0 to Saudi Arabia is the final score in an eventful game. But you feel that Roberto Mancini may be left wanting more from his team before the knockout stages come around.