Asia's number two-ranked team Saudi Arabia repeatedly attacked the middle of the Thai National teams offense stealing the ball and a second round World Cup qualifying match against the home team yesterday in a come from behind 3-1 victory.

The experienced Saudi's who qualified for the World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998 showed their maturity and skill after overcoming a 1-0 half time deficit.

Led by their talented veteran forward, Sami Al Jaber the Saudi's struck quickly in the first minute of the second half when Al Jaber blasted a shot from close range at the left of the inside box past Thai goalie Kittisak Rawangpa.

When the second half started Saudi coach Nassar Al Johar placed Jaber at midfield giving them five midfielders, and that made a difference. The tactic prevailed as the aggressive Saudi's repeatedly stole the ball by swarming and attacking the surprised Thai's at midfield.

The Thai's were mentally overwhelmed, physically challenged and found themselves back on their heels. After repeatedly losing the ball at midfield the Thais were tired from having to chase it to gain possession. It was a complete turnaround from the first half when the Thai's were the aggressors and were in control much of the time.

Kiartisak Senamuang

Thailand held the lead from the 28th minute when Sakesan Pituratana smashed in a shot after taking a pass from the star striker Kiartisak Senamuang. The Thai's continued to assert their offense during the first half having several shots on goal.

In the 63rd minute the Saudi's struck again when Abdullah S. M. Binghehan picked up a rebound off Thai keeper Kittisak Rawangpa and scored.

Jabari's coolheaded experience from playing in those two World Cup finals surfaced again in the 71st minute when he passed to Obaid S. Al Dosari who scored for a 3-1 lead that was to become the final score.

The win gave the Saudi's seven points from four matches for second place in Group A trailing Iran who have eight. Bahrain is third with six points, Iraq fourth with three and Thailand is last with two.

Saudi Arabia and Iran meet September 28th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi's lost the first match August 24th 2-0 in Iran. The loss cost then head coach Slobodian Santrac his job. The Yugoslavian was with the squad for less than a year.

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Side Bars: The match was played just four days after the World Trade disaster in the United States. Neither of the Thailand's two English language newspapers printed anything about the match prior to the event.

One observer from Singapore commented that he felt the Thai's were consumed in their SEA Games [Southeast Asian Games] competition.

Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium

It was a very strange, silent media atmosphere prior to the game. When Iran, Asia's number three ranked team, came to Bangkok for their September 1st game there were daily mentions of the event leading up to the match. Due to whatever reasons of not having English language press coverage during the week, the contest drew only an estimated 25,000 to Bangkok's 65,000 seat Rajamangala Stadium.

Saudi coach Al Johar, who is Saudi, failed to appear at the post game press conference nor did any of the Saudi media. Later that night at the team's hotel a Saudi journalist explained that there wasn't an interpreter provided by those responsible for the event.

Al Johar didn't turn in a team sheet at the managers meeting the day prior to the match as required by FIFA regulations. It was given to Thai coach Withe an hour before the contest. The Saudi group said their printer broke down. You have to wonder… what happened to their pens and pencils?

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The Football Association of Thailand somewhat shot themselves in the foot by poor planning for their first ever World Cup Qualifying competition. In what was their most important soccer competition, poor traveling plans had the team taking a journey from their training headquarters in Singapore to Iraq. The squad had to endure three changes of airplane connections, long layovers that resulted in a 36-hour trip.

They team arrived the day before the match tired and jetlagged. The heat in Iraq was more sweltering than the heat in Thailand. These factors led to a disoriented Thai team that lost 4-0.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia arrived in Bangkok early in the week. Iran arrived on a Tuesday, the Saudi's arrived 6:30 AM Wednesday to prepare for their Saturday matches against the Thai's. It gave both teams time to settle down and rest from the trip with ample time to prepare and practice for the contests in the Thailand climate.

After the Iraq debacle, Thailand proved that they could compete with any team. After playing 1st place Group leader Iran to a 0-0 draw they also drew 1-1 with third place and surprisingly strong Bahrain.

After being ranked Asia's top team in May the latest FIFA rankings have Saudi Arabia 2nd and 35th Internationally trailing Japan who are 27th Internationally. Iran is ranked third/46th, Thailand fourth/62nd and Iraq eighth/69th.

In what could have been a major step forward for the hardworking overachieving Thai team it was certainly the wrong way to get off to a good start. The traveling plan blunder for the opening match in Iraq put the team behind the eight ball in the strongest group competition in Asia.

The failure to plan a trip properly may have cost the Thai's in what could have been their greatest ever accomplishment in soccer. It now appears they have no chance of winning the group. Iraq and Thailand will play again in Bangkok September 22nd.

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At a press conference in Singapore prior to departing for the Iraq match Thai coach Peter Withe was told that his contract would be renewed. That announcement was made in the first half of August. At the time it was the first time Withe had heard anything of it. Since then Withe has yet to see a contract.

A jubilant Thai soccer team after Asian Games victory over South Korea

Since his arrival three years ago Withe started off strong coaching the squad to a fourth place finish in the Asian Games after being with the team for just over a month. It was highlighted by a victory over previous World Cup finalists South Korea. The Thai's did it with only nine players. Iran won the 1998 Asian Games.

Under his leadership the Thai squad defeated the then English Premier League's second best squad Arsenal 4-3 in May, 1999. They gave last season's Premier League Champs Manchester United all they could handle July 29th narrowly losing 2-1. The prior week they lost to UEFA and FA champions Liverpool 3-1.

During his tenure Withe's teams have also won the Kings Cup competition, The Sea Games and the Tiger Cup. They drew with Iran in the Asian Cup 1-1 and played them to another draw September 1st in these World Cup qualifying matches.

Withe has brought pride, respectability and stature to the Thai football program. This year he has won the ASEAN Football Coach of the Month Award. His contract expires October 20th the day after their last World Cup qualifying match in Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned to the way the Thai's do business.

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