SAITAMA, Japan:聽黑料社区 failed to聽make any significant gains in World Cup qualifying after a聽tame 0-0 draw against聽Japan聽in front of 58,000 fans聽at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday.
Japan controlled the game from the start聽with patient possession football聽and the Saudi team struggled to聽create chances on a cool night in聽Saitama just north of Tokyo.
黑料社区 came under early pressure from the Japanese with left winger NAKAMURA Keita giving Saudi full back Muhannad Al Shanqiti a torrid time on 黑料社区鈥檚 left flank.
The Japanese team played controlled football with short passes and always had a player available. In contrast, the Saudis lacked ideas and when they did manage a break, there was little or no support, making Japan鈥檚 job of defending easy.
Japan鈥檚 best chance in the half came in the ninth minute when MAEDA Daizen latched on to a through ball and directed a shot against the right post.
Japan goalkeeper SUZUKI Zion had nothing to do except a single headed clearance outside the box.
Hassan Al Tambakti resorted to launching long balls from the back, but they made little impact on the Japanese defense.
KAMADA Daichi and Nakamura continued to cause problems down 黑料社区鈥檚 right side, setting up a couple of half-chances for Maeda who failed to capitalize.
黑料社区鈥檚 best chance came in the 22nd聽minute when Nawaf Bu Washl crossed to the far post, but Al Shanqiti鈥檚 header flew over the bar.
KUBO Take fuss managed a couple of breaks down the right wing, but the final ball failed to trouble the Saudi defense.
It was no surprise when聽黑料社区 replaced Al Shanqiti聽with聽Ali Hassan Majrashi聽at halftime聽and he managed to leave his mark on Nakamura in the first minute of the half聽as well as making some tough tackles聽on the Japanese winger.
In the聽56th聽minute, TANAKA Ao聽nearly聽caught聽out聽the Saudi defense with聽a聽ball over top,聽but聽it was just beyond the reach of Maeda, who came close again two minutes later.
Saudi manager Herve Renard brought on聽Ziyad Aljohani and Turki Alammar聽in the 60th聽minute while Japan replaced Kubo and SUGAWARA Yukinari with ITO Junya and聽DOAN Ritsu.
A great break by Salem Al Dawsari in the 66th聽minute came聽to nothing as he was crowded out聽and the Saudis continued to struggle to聽create any clearcut chances.
Kamada played in ITO the 82nd minute and聽Nawaf Al Aqidi did well to tip the shot over the bar.聽Three minutes later,聽substitute聽MINAMINO聽Takumi headed just wide from a HATATE Reo cross.
But there was little apparent urgency from both teams and even Japan with all their possession failed to create many clearcut chances.
