Al-Nasr resumed training on Friday, led by Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Senegalese Sadio Mane, after the rest period granted by the technical staff to the players during the international break.
The training witnessed positive developments regarding the readiness of the Frenchmen Mohamed Simakan and Kingsley Coman. The medical staff gave the players the green light to participate in part of the group and fitness training, after they passed the first stage of the treatment and rehabilitation programs for the two injuries they sustained during the last period, which kept them away from the last match against Pakhtakor, Uzbekistan, in the AFC Champions League.
It is expected that the duo will gradually continue to participate in training over the coming days, in preparation for their return to the roster, amid positive indications about their readiness to face Al-Ahly next, in the ninth round of the Saudi Professional League.
For his part, Australian coach Ange Postecoglou summoned a number of players from the under-21 team to participate in first-team training, in order to compensate for the numerical shortage in light of the absence of international players associated with the national teams during the suspension period.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Riyadh Region, crowned the horse “Tahzim”, belonging to the stable of Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, with the Prince Mohammed bin Saud Grand Cup “Loyalty Cup”, after winning the tenth round of the twenty-ninth ceremony of the Riyadh racing season, on Friday evening, at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in Janadriyah.
“Tahzim” won the cup, which is classified as one of the second category cups locally, and is designated for Saudi local production horses aged four years and over, after excelling in the race that was held for a distance of 2000 metres.
After the end of the race, the Emir of the Riyadh Region handed over the championship cup to Saad bin Musharraf, CEO of Najd Racing Company, as a culmination of the horse’s achievement.
The race witnessed the presence of Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Horse Racing Club, Prince Abdullah bin Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and Prince Salman bin Abdullah bin Salman bin Mohammed, CEO of the Horse Racing Club.
The Saudi team, the “Gulf Champion,” returned to shake hands with its fans with an exciting victory over its South Korean counterpart (3-2), during its preparatory camp in the Qatari capital, Doha.
In the match that took place at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari Al-Sadd Club, Saudi Arabia took the lead with a goal in the last seconds of the first half, scored by Marwan Al-Sahafi, his first goal in the national team’s jersey, then South Korea tied with a goal after the start of the second half, scored by Oh Hyun-gyu.
Then, Muhammad Kanno and Abdul-Ilah Al-Omari added two goals for Saudi Arabia, before Lee Jae-sung concluded the scoring with the second goal for South Korea.
South Korea had an opportunity in the 24th minute, but Al-Omari excelled in cutting off a dangerous cross pass from Lee Kang-in, while the South Korean goalkeeper excelled in blocking a powerful ball in the 28th minute that was shot by the journalist from outside the penalty area.
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais excelled in stopping a dangerous ball in the 45th minute. Then the journalist opened the scoring for the Saudi team in stoppage time of the first half, when he received a long pass as he set off for the penalty area, passed the goalkeeper brilliantly, and then shot the ball into an empty net.
Two minutes after the start of the second half, the South Korean national team equalized through Oh Hyun-gyu, who received a cross pass and directed the ball with a direct shot into the net.
Saudi Arabia took the lead again in the 55th minute, as Saud Abdul Hamid brilliantly penetrated the penalty area, then sent a cross to Kanu, who shot a ball that hit the post and bounced into the net.
Four minutes later, Al-Omari added the third goal for the Saudi national team with a header, following a corner kick.
Lee Jae-sung concluded the scoring with the second goal for South Korea in the 68th minute, scoring it with a skillful touch in front of the goal, following a cross pass.
Donis chose a list of 30 players to participate in the Doha camp, which began on November 9 and continues until November 17, and will witness another friendly match against Uzbekistan next Tuesday.
The list included names with international experience, led by goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, along with Saud Abdul Hamid, Hassan Al Timbukti, Abdul Ilah Al Omari, Mohammed Kanno, Nasser Al Dosari, Musab Al Jawir, Firas Al Burikan, and Abdullah Al Hamdan, while the captain of the national team, Salem Al Dosari, was absent from the camp.
The Asian Cup draw placed the Saudi team in the first group alongside Palestine, Oman and Kuwait, while South Korea was placed in the second group alongside Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Jordan.
