When the new manager of the Saudi Arabia national soccer team took office, fans were eagerly waiting for the team to be revitalized, hoping that a change of manager would be like a change of sword. But the reality was a slap in the face, as the Saudi team performed miserably in the match. In the first half, Bahrain broke through the Saudi defense twice and quickly built up a 2-0 lead. In the second half, the Saudis stepped up their attack in an attempt to claw back the lead. Despite controlling the field well, they were slow to score and it was not until the 73rd minute that they knocked on the opponent's goal. Unfortunately, just three minutes later, Bahrain scored again after another mistake in the Saudi defense. Although the Saudis got a point back from a penalty kick, they were defeated 2-3 by Bahrain.
The Saudis are coming off a victory against China, but have suffered back-to-back losses in the 18-team tournament. The defeat against Indonesia on the road in the sixth round of the tournament added to the frustration of the fans. It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Arabia team belongs to the third slot in the 18-team tournament in Group C, and had a chance to directly advance to the World Cup final round, but now it seems that there is little hope of getting out of the tournament.
Saudi Arabia's recent slump in form is certainly good news for the Chinese men's soccer team.The next round of the 18-team tournament will be staged in late March next year, and the Chinese men's soccer team will be on the road to challenge the Saudi Arabia team. Given the performance of Saudi Arabia, the Chinese team is expected to win on the road and compete for the top four positions in the group! Let's all look forward to a great performance by the Chinese team, cheers!
