FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°40

Saudi Arabia, already eliminated, drew 2-2 with South Africa in their Group C match here on Wednesday, killing off the Africans’ chances of going into the second round. South Africa had to win by at least three goals if they were to overhaul Denmark on goal difference.

South Africa, in their first World Cup finals, went ahead through Shaun Bartlett before penalties from Sami Al Jaber and then new skipper Youssef Al Tunian put the Saudis ahead. But a 90th minute penalty by Bartlett gave them a merited draw. It was another disappointing match for Pierre Issa. The 22-year-old defender, who scored an own goal in the 3-0 defeat to France, made both tackles which brought penalties for Saudi Arabia.

However, South Africa coach Philippe Troussier denied it was a disappointing World Cup exit for South Africa. ” This was South Africa’s first World Cup and although expectations were high you have to accept the results. We got two points and learnt a lot and we can only have improved by playing at this level, “ he said. However, he was critical of his players’ attitude. ” Talent is fine but you need to have that will to win, that courage, that determination to go out and get a result, “ he said.

” I never felt there has been that sort of mentality in the South African team, I never felt there was that little bit extra which makes them go out and play for every ball. “ South Africa made just one change, bringing in central defender Willem Jackson in for midfielder Brendan Augustine, who was sent home for staying out at a night club.

Saudi Arabia’s new boss Mohamed Al Kharashi made four changes in the wake of their elimination and sacking of coach Carlos Alberto Perreira. Fahad Al Mehalel, Youssef Al Tunian, Khamis Dossari and Nawaf Al Temyat came in for Ibrahim Al Shahrani, Sayeed Owairan, Khamis Al Owairan and suspended Mohammed Al Khilaiwi, sent off for fouling France’s Bixente Lizarazu.

In fact, Khalis Al Owairan, named in the official team sheet as number 16 more than an hour before the game, gave up his number 16 shirt to Khamis Dossari in a late change 20 minutes before kick-off. The opener came when Shaun Bartlett latched on to a long ball from sweeper Pierre Issa. Bartlett, with the Saudi defence desperately calling for offside, ran straight for goal and at full speed put a firm left foot shot between keeper Mohammed Al Deayea and the near post.

Benni McCarthy had a chance from close in to increase the score but did not connect properly and the opportunity passed him by. Saudi Arabia should have equalized when a ball into the box by Hamzah Saleh was touched at full stretch by Sami Al Jaber who acrobatically kicked with the outside of his right foot goalwards before falling onto his back.But third-choice keeper Johannes Vonk spectacularly tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Al Jaber made two poor appeals for a penalty one after the other but Chilean referee Mario Sanchez Yanten was unmoved. Khamis Dossari got a yellow card for obstructing Fortune on the half-hour then Fortune earned a caution for a foul on Al Jaber. Five minutes before the break, Mosheou lobbed the ball over the bar after catching Al Deayea off his line in what looked an easy chance. In first half injury time, Saudi Arabia pulled level. Issa fouled midfielder Youseff Al Tunian, who had taken over the captain’s armband from Fuad Amin, who was skipper in the first two matches.

Striker Sami Al Jaber then shot powerfully past the flailing right hand of keeper Vonk. The opening section of the second half began slowly before it sprang to life on the hour and led to the Saudis hitting their second. Ibrahim Al Shahrani was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Issa in the 73rd minute and skipper Al Tunian hit the ball firmly past the right hand of Vonk.

In the 90th minute Bartlett converted a penalty and South Africa had snatched a draw but were still going home. Saudi Arabia coach Mohamed Al Kharashi said: ” I think the Saudi performance overall was not one we hoped it would be. “ Perhaps alluding to reported internal strife in the squad he added: ” I hoped we would reach the second round but this was not possible for reasons I shall not go into in detail. “