In their penultimate friendly before the World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s only shot on goal in a 3-0 defeat to Peru on Sunday came in the 86th minute and was struck by Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi, a second-half substitute who found out a few hours later he will not travel to Russia. If that is alarming, consider this: Coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has also left Nawaf Al-Abed, the country’s most creative player, out of his 23-man squad.
On a pleasant evening in Switzerland, Pizzi selected a second-string side that looked out of its depth even before the match had kicked off. In front of 18,000 expectant Peruvians, the it was always going to be
something of an away match for
Pizzi’s players.
Al-Abed had been selected to start, but approached Pizzi before kick-off and requested he be withdrawn.
The Al-Hilal playmaker was crucial in World Cup qualifying, scoring five goals and proving an innovative, inventive outlet in midfield. Yet he has struggled to recover after undergoing surgery on a groin injury in January and, ahead of what would have been his first start in five months, he told Pizzi he did not feel ready and was reluctant to burden his teammates.
The coach reluctantly accepted, eventually bringing him on as a substitute for the final 22 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, the 28-year-old looked well off the pace.
But rather than field questions about the omitted playmaker,
afterwards Pizzi was left to explain the friendly defeat that began with Andre Carrillo’s exceptional volley from outside the penalty box,
sending the Peruvians one-goal up.
“The teams were pretty similar for the first 20 minutes or so, but after one piece of exceptional individual talent, we went behind and that changed the shape of the match,” said Pizzi.
“We struggled after the goal and found it difficult to get the ball into the areas we want to be in.”
If there was any positive for Pizzi to take from the defeat it was that his team’s fitness levels appear to be high. In the closing stages, it was Saudi Arabia who finished stronger. Moments after Al-Kuwaykibi’s shot on goal, Taisir Al-Jassim worked an opening only to see his strike deflect onto the crossbar.
“We had to defend a lot in the second half,” said Pizzi.
“But even then, we had a great chance late on and could have scored. We have work still to do, but the World Cup has not started yet.”
With the side’s final friendly match coming against world champions Germany on Friday, Peru had been billed as the team’s best chance of a morale-boosting win before they get their World Cup campaign under way against hosts Russia on June 14.
Defeating a side ranked 11th in the world and arriving in St. Gallen unbeaten in 13 games, however, was never going to be easy.
That task was made all the more difficult when Peru coach Ricardo Gareca recalled Paolo Guerrero, their talismanic captain and all-time leading goalscorer who had been absent for eight months due to an ongoing doping case.
With a back-four playing together for the first time and a midfield lacking a defensive figure, the Green Falcons failed to settle and struggled for rhythm.
Salman Al-Faraj’s sloppy pass in the middle of the park almost handed Peru an early lead, while Al-Mayouf spilled the first effort at his goal. Salem Al-Dawsari provided a rare Saudi Arabian spark going forward, powering past two defenders, but the attack came to nothing.
The Argentine may consider
Carrillo’s looping volley from
outside the penalty box exceptional, but other more objective observers would most likely point to the calamitous defending that immediately preceded it. Additionally, the shot was struck without pressure after Hussain Al-Mogahwi’s aimless clearance fell straight into the Watford
winger’s lap with nobody near him.
Twenty minutes later, Guerrero marked his return with a goal after Al-Mayouf parried Edison Flores’ shot into his path. The Peruvian striker had not scored for his country since last June, but grabbed his second in the 64th minute. Carrillo was fed the ball wide on the left, turned quickly, and picked out the unmarked forward whose downward header bounced past Al-Mayouf.
Guerrero said he expects more difficult opponents in the weeks to come. Peru have been drawn in a group with Denmark, France and Australia. “I believe we have to keep our humility. We have not won anything yet,” he said. “We have to improve because the World Cup matches will be tougher.”
Saudi Arabia stumble does not bode well for World Cup
Saudi Arabia stumble does not bode well for World Cup
- Juan Antonio Pizzi sees positives after 3-0 defeat.
- 'We still have work to do but World Cup not started yet' Argentine coach says.
