Saudi Arabia 1 Trinidad and Tobago 1
June 22 – Saudi Arabia lived dangerously at the end of their final group encounter against Trinidad and Tobago at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to secure a spot in the quarter finals. Having dominated possession for most of the game, Trinidad came to life in the final 15 minutes but failed to put away a succession of chances.
Saudi Arabia, guesting at Concacaf’s blue riband national team tournament, have missed key players who are on duty at the Club World Cup, but have improved with every game. An experience that will surely stand them in good stead for their last chance to qualify for 2026.
Trinidad and Tobago, for the first time under Dwight Yorke’s management, have also improved with every game, but perhaps more importantly are a significantly better team than they were in 2023 at the Gold Cup.
Saudi Arabia came into the game knowing that a win over Trinidad and Tobago would guarantee their progression into the knockout rounds. A win for Trinidad and a US victory over Haiti would put Trinidad into the next round.
Saudi started the stronger keeping the play in the Trinidad half, but it was Trinidad who drew first blood with their first incursion into the Saudi half.
In the 10th minute Dante Sealy received the ball wide on the right and, given too much space by Saudi left back curled a beauty into the top right hand corner of Nawaf Alaqidi’s goal,
Saudi responded immediately with Feras Albrikan heading down only to see the ball bounce over Marvin Phillip’s goal.
Levi Garcia, always a threat for Trinidad, responded with a first time shot in the box forcing a good right-handed diving save from Alaqidi.
For all their 68% of possession – and they are comfortable with the ball at their feet – the Saudis could not create enough threat to put pressure on the Trinidad goal.
Trinidad have pace and power throughout their line-up, and an appetite to run at defenders. With Garcia and veteran Kevin Molino upfront they also have goalscoring threat.
In the 52nd minute Saudi should have been level. Saud Abdulhamid racing into the box from deep couldn’t quite get enough touch on the slide to guide the ball past Phillip, instead hitting the side netting.
Eight minutes later Saudi at last had reward for their territorial control. Saleh Alsheri fired his shot from within the box into the bar. The ball rebounded down and Albrikan was on hand to hit it into the net.
The Saudi pressed on and in the 70th minute almost had the lead. Abdulrahman Alobud, increasingly finding space on the left curled a shot over Phillip, hitting the bar. Two minutes later he followed up on a rebound but couldn’t find the net.
Trinidad needed to get on the ball if they were to get back into the game and stay in the competition. Coach Dwight Yorke worked his bench. With the US 2-1 up against Haiti, a goal for Trinidad would put them back in group second spot and the quarter finals.
Into the final 10 minutes the game exploded into life. Trinidad were at last putting together sustained possession in the Saudi half. Cue a frantic finish.
A free kick forced Alaqidi to save low, as three corners were repelled by a Saudi defence who up to this point had not been properly tested.
It was now end to end. In added time a Joevin Jones shot close in on the left hit Alaqidi’s hand, it so easily could have gone in. Straight back at Trinidad and Abdulhamid thought he had scored but was ruled offside.
Trinidad returned with Isiah Garcia, thrown into attack from central defence, free in front of goal, but hammering his shot into the bar.
It was an entertaining finish and Trinidad, who finished third in their group will rue the missed chances despite have struggled to get control of the ball for much of the game.
Saudi, guesting at the Gold Cup, move into the next round having ridden their luck in the last 15 minutes but having shown they can stand toe-to-toe with the physicality in front of them.
| Grp D | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Haiti | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
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