KUWAIT: Saudi Arabia turned the tables on Uzbekistan by scoring two goals in the last five minutes to win a 3-2 win in Tashkent on Thursday in the fifth round of the double qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup.
Saudi Arabia hit two birds with one stone because it removed its main rival Uzbekistan, leading the group to 8 points to 6 for Uzbekistan.
The group also includes Palestine and Yemen, who later meet.
Uzbekistan took the lead twice by Aldor Shomorodov (16) and Adel Salman Al-Faraj with a penalty (23) and the second through Otabek Shukurov (56 from the penalty spot), before Saudi Arabia responded with two deadly goals through Al-Faraj (85) and Salem Al-Dosari (89).