JEDDAH: Six-time World Cup participants Saudi Arabia had to come from behind to open their play-offs for the 2026 finals with a 3-2 victory over Indonesia, while 2022 hosts Qatar were held to a stalemate by Oman.

The Saudis, favourites to qualify from Group ‘B’ given they enjoy home advantage, got off to the worst possible start at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah when Hassan Al Tambakti appeared to block with his arm Jay Idzes’ close-range header in the penalty area.

After a lengthy VAR check, Indonesia were awarded a penalty and midfielder Kevin Diks kept his cool from the spot to put his side 1-0 up in the 11th minute.

Indonesia, managed now by former Netherlands and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, are attempting to qualify for their first World Cup since gaining independence from the Dutch in 1945.

However, the lead lasted only six minutes.

Making his competitive international debut, Saleh Abu Shamat curled a sublime left-footed effort from the edge of the Indonesia area past goalkeeper Maarten Paes.

Soon after the Al Ahli midfielder struck the Indonesia crossbar with a shot from distance.

But on 36 minutes, the Saudis completed the turnaround following Yakob Sayuri’s foul on Al Ahli forward Feras Al Buraikan and after a long VAR review, the 2025 Asian Champions League winner stepped up to thrash his penalty high past Paes.

In the second half, Paes saved superbly from Al Buraikan’s close-range header, only for the latter to ram home a rebound just after the hour to put Saudi 3-1 up.

Indonesia were given a lifeline minutes from time when Nawaf Bu Washl handled in the Saudi area, with Diks scoring from the spot once more.

There was still time for substitute Mohammed Kanno to be sent off after collecting a second yellow card for dissent.

Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia held on to take pole position in Group ‘B’. They host Iraq — led by Graham Arnold — next Tuesday, with Indonesia and Iraq facing off on Saturday.

Herve Renard said losing to Indonesia in Jakarta last year had been the spur to make the changes required to his squad that led them to seal a crucial victory.

“We know Indonesia is a good team, so we prepared for this game very well,” said Renard. “We also had revenge to take because we were very bad when we went to their home ground.

“It was our fault, they put us under pressure and we didn’t manage to support the pressure. But it was also after this game I made some very important decisions, so maybe it was a good sign.”

The winners of the three-team group will join Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan as one of Asia’s automatic qualifiers for the finals while the runners-up go into another round of preliminaries.

Kluivert said his team’s inability to turn scoring opportunities into goals has left him frustrated as the Southeast Asian nation’s World Cup dream teeters on the brink.

“That’s the thing that we’re going to work on but it’s very difficult, we can’t train it and that’s a fact,” Kluivert said when asked about the narrow difference between the teams in the expected goals metric after the game.

“Sometimes I punch myself in the face and it’s a pity that that’s something we can’t train properly.

“We’re not happy, we’re very disappointed but at 3-2 we’re going with our heads up off this pitch because in three days we have another match waiting for us. “We need to clear our minds and look for a good game against Iraq.”

Earlier on Wednesday, in Group ‘A’, Qatar could not find a way past Oman at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.

Julen Lopetegui’s men threatened only on occasion through two-time Asian-Player-of-the-Year Akram Afif.

The result tips the balance in UAE’s favour. The 1990 finalists face Oman on Saturday before meeting Qatar three days later.

With six teams competing in two groups over a week, the winners of each pool qualify for next year’s showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The runners-up from each group will meet in a two-legged tie next month, with the winner going into an intercontinental playoff.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2025