MANAMA, Bahrain (AP)Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain 1-0 in an international friendly soccer match Friday ahead of next's weeks Asian Cup.
The Saudis, who lost their previous friendly 1-0 to Iraq, were the stronger side from the start as strikers Yasser Al Qahtani and Nasser Al Shamrani made several runs into the area in the early stages. Al Qahtani's best effort came in the 12th minute when his close-range shot was superbly denied by Bahrain's goalkeeper Abbas Ahmed.
In the second half, Bahrain threatened several times before Saudi Arabia's substitute defender Osama Haousawi scored the winner in the 65th minute. Haousawi rose up to head the ball into the back of the net after he was set up by substitute striker Nayef Hazzazi, much to the joy of hundreds of Saudi supporters.
