Jaidi rescues late point for Tunisia

BOLTON defender Radhi Jaidi rescued a point for Tunisia with an injury-time goal in their Group H opener against Saudi Arabia at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

The game burst into life in the final 10 minutes after Zied Jaziri had given Tunisia the lead in the 23rd minute and Yasser Al Kahtani equalised for the Saudis 12 minutes after the restart. With a drawlooming, Al Jaber, who came on for Al Kahtani just two minutes earlier, gave Saudi Arabia the lead as heput the finishing touch to a rapid break.

But Jaidi was to have the final word as the Saudi defence failed to clear the ball in the dying seconds.

The draw was the least the Tunisians deserved after starting the game the brighter of the two teams and at the end of the opening period were good value for their lead.

Jaziri gave Tunisia the lead with an acrobatic scissor-kick from inside the penalty area in the 23rd minute after the Saudi defence struggled to clear a free-kick by Adel Chedli.

The second-half saw the Saudis finally find their rhythm and Marcos Paqueta’s team could have been on level terms within two minutes of the restart.

Hamad Al Montashari played the ball from the back before Mohammad Noor wrestled his way past the Tunisian defence, only to scuff his weak effort wide.

Ten minutes later, however, the three-time Asian champions were level thanks to a lightning quick move down the right flank which dazzled the Tunisians. Ahmed Dokhi’s ball down the right flank was met by Noor and his first time cross was rifled into the roof of the net by Al Kahtani.

The game looked to be heading for a draw when Paqueta introduced Al Jaber with eight minutes to go for Al Kahtani – and the former Wolves man seared down the left before firing beyond Boumnijel’s left hand to put Saudi Arabia in front.

But the Saudi celebrations were to be short-lived as Jaidi headed home from inside the six-yard box .

TUNISIA: Boumnijel, Haggui, Trabelsi, Jaidi, Jemmali, Mnari, Bouazizi (Nafti 54), Chedli (Ghodhbane 69), Namouchi, Jaziri, Chikhaoui (Essediri 82).

SAUDI ARABIA: Zaid, Dokhi, Tukar, Al Montashari, Sulimani, Al Ghamdi, Noor (Ameen 75), Khariri, Aziz, Al Temyat (Mouath 66), Al Kahtani (Al Jaber 82).

Referee: Mark Shield (Australia).