For the first time since 2000, Saudi Arabia and South Korea will meet in the Asian Cup knockout stage, with their round of 16 fixture taking place on Tuesday at Education City Stadium.
The Green Falcons topped Group F with a 0-0 draw versus Thailand, while Korea wound up second in Group E after a wild 3-3 draw with Malaysia.
Match preview
© Reuters
In the opening phase, we saw the Saudis pick up where they left off before the Asian Cup began, going unbeaten in the group portion of this tournament for the first time since 2007, while extending their undefeated run to eight matches in all competitions.
It is also the first time since 2007 that they have finished top of their Asian Cup group, with the one goal against them in the opening round being the only one they have conceded on their current unbeaten run.
Their impressive defensive work in the opening round is no surprise given the reputation of manager Roberto Mancini, who has often said publicly that he prefers 1-0 results to victories with plenty of goals.
On Tuesday, Mancini can do something no Saudi boss has done since 2007, win a knockout stage encounter at the Asian Cup.
Since upsetting the future World Cup champions Argentina in their opening game in Qatar 2022, Saudi Arabia have lost nine of their last 10 games in all competitions when conceding the opening goal, with that other victory occurring in their opening match at this tournament versus Oman (2-1).
The Green Falcons have not won a match against the Koreans since a 2005 World Cup qualifier (1-0), though they emerged victorious the last time these two sides faced each other in the knockout stage of this tournament in the 2000 semi-finals (2-1).
© Reuters
The Asian Cup group stage for South Korea was not short on drama and excitement, with at least four goals scored in all three of their games.
That, however, did not always equal results, as the Taegeuk Warriors finished with just five points, the fewest for them in the group phase of this competition since 2007 (four), while failing to top their group for the first time since 2011.
For a second successive encounter, Jurgen Klinsmann's men had the bulk of the possession and chances versus Malaysia, but as the former World Cup winner put it, their defensive transition was poor once again, conceding four efforts on target, three of which were goals.
South Korea have won their opening knockout fixture at the Asian Cup in each of the past four tournaments, squeaking past Bahrain at this stage four years ago (2-1 in extra time).
As a national team manager, Klinsmann has only suffered one defeat in normal time at either the World Cup or any other continental competition, when his USA side lost 2-1 versus Jamaica at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals.
The Tigers of Asia have not conceded a single goal against the Green Falcons in their four previous meetings but have never beaten them in the Asian Cup.
Team News
© Reuters
With their place in the last 16 already assured, Mancini made wholesale changes to the Saudi Arabian starting 11 on matchday three, with Ali Al-Bulaihi and Salem Al-Dawsari being the only two players to keep their place in the opening lineup.
Al-Bulaihi reached the half-century mark for caps in their draw versus Thailand, as did Mohamed Kanno when he came on for Fawaz Al-Sqoor, while Mohammed Al-Breik is six away from that same milestone.
Raghed Al-Najjar replaced Ahmed Al-Kassar in goal and did not have to make a single stop to collect a clean sheet, while also earning his first cap with the Green Falcons.
Klinsmann made three changes to his South Korean starting 11 from matchday two to three, bringing in Kim Tae-hwan, Kim Young-gwon and Jeong Woo-yeong in place of Jung Seung-hyun, Lee Ki-je and Park Yong-woo.
Hwang Hee-chan who missed the first two games through injury, made his first appearance of the competition on matchday three, coming on for Cho Gue-sung in the second half, while Kim Jin-su also returned from a knock, replacing Seol Young-woo.
Lee Kang-in scored his third of the competition, Jeong Woo-yeong netted his fourth with the national team, while Son Heung-min now has a goal in successive encounters.
Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:
Al-Kassar; Al-Briek, Al-Tambakti, Lajami, Al-Bulaihi; Abdulhamid, Ali, Al-Malki, Ghareeb; S. Al-Dawsari, Al-Shehri
South Korea possible starting lineup:
Hyeon-woo; Young-woo, Seung-hyun, Min-jae, Jin-su; Kang-in, In-beom, Woo-yeong, Jae-sung; Gue-sung, Heung-min
We say: Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea (Saudi Arabia advances on penalties)
These are two sides with contrasting styles of play, and we believe the Saudi defensive shape could frustrate the South Koreans, and that frustration alone may be enough to give the Green Falcons a psychological edge when it may be needed most.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
Qatar
Tajikistan
China
Lebanon
Australia
Uzbekistan
Syria
India
Iran
UAE
Palestine
Hong Kong
Iraq
Japan
Indonesia
Vietnam
Bahrain
South Korea
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Thailand
Oman
Kyrgyzstan
