DOHA: A heroic welcome, motorcade and heavy gifts ranging from Mercedes cars to luxury villas awaited the victorious Saudi Arabian junior footballers, who won the World (under16) Football Championship in Scotland defeating the hosts in a penalty shootout in an absorbing final.%
The victory, first by an Asian country, had sent the football crazy Saudi Arabians deliric as the soccer buffs celebrated the historic win throughout the kingdom. The night long festivities also led to a series of traffic jams and accidents.
The Saudi Government had showered the players with similar gifts when the senior national squad had retained the Asian football cup last December in Doha defeating South Korea also in a penalty shoot out.
The national squad is now preparing for the second round of the Asian zone world cup qualifying rounds for a berth in Italian 90. The six team second round competitions are to begin in September. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, South Korean and North Korea have confirmed their entry, Tran or Japan would fill the sixth slot.
In Glasgow Scotland’s Brian O7Neill missed two penalties as 10 man Saudi Arabia battled back from 02 down at halftime to lift the trophy, Reuter adds.
The Saudis had AlHamdi sent off six minutes from the end of normal time then forced the game into extra time before clinching victory 54 in a penalty shootout.
O” Neill match winner in the semifinal against Portugal had his weak penalty saved by Al Deayea with the score 21 and only 18 minutes left.
The let off inspired Saudi Arabia to equalize four minutes after through Waleed Al Terair and force extra time, With the score deadlocked at 22 the match went into a penalty decider and again O’Neill figured prominently in the drama.
With the score 44 after five penalties apiece, O’ Neills effort was again blocked by AlDeayea, leaving Galem Alwi to capture the trophy by beating Scottish goalkeeper Jim Will.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1989
