Live: Saudi Arabia v Japan | Asian Cup 2019
In today’s AFC Asian Cup, Japan meets Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium. The match will kick-start at 6:00 AM ET on 21th January 2019, Monday. In their last meeting, Japan won the game by 3-1.
Japan recent performance was like D W W W W and Saudi Arabia recent performance was like D D W W L.
Saudi Arabia will face four-time Asian Cup champions Japan in the last- 16 after their defeat to Qatar in the top-of the table Group E clash at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Almoez Ali scored either side of half-time to take his tournament tally to seven goals, and steer Qatar past Saudi Arabia 2-0 into a meeting with the Group D runners-up Iraq in the knockout stages.
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais made an excellent save to keep out a penalty from Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos three minutes before half-time, but their joy was short lived as, in first-half injury time, Almoez broke the deadlock.
Qatar then doubled their lead with 10 minutes remaining when an unmarked Almoez buried his header after a pinpoint cross from Abdelaziz Hatim.
In an evenly-contested game, Saudi dominated large swathes of possession and carved out numerous chances to lead, and then get back into the game, but could not find the cutting edge required.
Saudi came close to breaking the deadlock twice in the first 15 minutes, but Fahad Al Muwallad’s effort crashed against left post, before Hussain Al Moqhawi, unmarked on the far post, fired one way over the crossbar.
With both teams already assured of their progress from the group, the final match was a battle for top spot and to decide who they would face in the first knockout stage.
