Three-times champions Saudi Arabia were dumped out of the Asian Cup on Thursday after an error from goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah gifted Jordan a surprise 1-0 victory. It was another disappointing display by the Saudis, who showed no improvement under coach Nasser Al Johar after he stepped in to replace sacked Portuguese Jose Peseiro following the opening match defeat by Syria.
A woeful opening half where neither side appeared to want to hold possession ended with another mistake when Abdullah was caught out by the swirling breeze at a cold Al Rayyan Stadium, with many of the 17,349 crowd in jackets, gloves and hats. Three minutes before halftime, Jorudan's Bahaa Abdelrahman floated a hopeful, inswinging ball in to the penalty area which sailed over Abdullah, who had stepped of his line to come for the cross, and in to the corner of the goal. "He (Abdullah) may have made a mistake and the mistake he has done is common in the world of football," Al Johar told reporters.
Saudi Arabia improved after the break, roared on by their passionate supporters, but struggled to find a breakthrough with their captain and leading goal threat Yasser Al Qahtani unable to get into the game.
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