On March 24, Beijing time, the World Preliminary Round of 12 in Asia continued, with the national football team against Saudi Arabia. The lineup of the national football team was adjusted for this game. In the first half, the Saudi team took the initiative, the number of shots on goal and the possession rate were clearly dominant, the number of shots on goal was 8-0, and the Saudi side of the corner before the end of the half scored.
In the first two games after Li Xiaopeng took office, the national football team lost to Japan and Vietnam successively, and did not qualify in advance. As Australia lost 2-0 to Japan, Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup ahead of schedule. In this match between the national football team and Saudi Arabia, Li Xiaopeng stressed the need to fight for the face of Chinese football. Judging from the starting lineup, Yan Junling still starts, Zheng Zheng, Zhu Chenjie and Zhang Linpeng are partners, Liu Yang and Gao Zhunyi start, Liao Lisheng and Xu Xin are partnered at the back, Arthur Junmin is in the front, zhang Yuning and Liu Binbin charge forward.
Facing the Saudi team, the national football team still went all out to fight the opponent. In the first half of the game, the game just began, the national football team transferred the ball to the right, and Gao Zhun wing chose to cross, but unfortunately there was no player in the penalty area to wrap it in place. In the 15th minute, Zhang Linpeng made a mistake in the backfield and lost the ball, the Saudi team completed the goal after stealing, fortunately, the shot was deflected out, this mistake is still very undeserved. In the 24th minute, Ha Joon Min was yellow carded for a tackle foul, and before Zhang Linpeng's tackle in the penalty area was damaged, the referee saw the replay and determined that there was no penalty.
The national football team is still very passive on the scene, the Saudi team's attack is very active, in the 28th minute, Liu Yang's left pass is wrong, the Saudi team played a counterattack, the national football team in the penalty area continued to defend the siege, and the Saudi team's final long-range shot was high. In the 32nd minute, the Saudi team again had a chance to hit the front of the box, but the shot was high. In the 35th minute, Zhang Linpeng blocked the Saudi team's cross, and this defense is still very important.
Saudi Arabia had consecutive corner kicks, but did not threaten to hit the goal. In the 39th minute, Zhu Chenjie was shown a yellow card for a tackle foul, and in the 44th minute, the Saudi team suddenly crossed obliquely behind him, and the team member who wrapped the ball in front of the goal was high, this time it was also very dangerous.
In stoppage time, Saudi Arabia scored, corner opportunities, Sheikhri's header in the penalty area after the goal, Saudi Arabia led 1-0, this goal, can also see the national football defense problems. At half-time, the national football team fell behind 0-1. The shot-to-goal ratio was 0-8.