International Friendly: Saudi Arabia’s Late Goal Forces Super Eagles To 2-2 Draw

The Super Eagles were denied a win as a late strike from Saudi Arabia ended Friday’s international friendly in a 2-2 draw.

The game saw Victor Boniface make his first start for the Super Eagles.

Prior to Friday’s game against the Super Eagles, Saudi Arabia had lost their last six games.

This is the second time both teams would settle for a draw.

With seconds remaining in the nine minutes of added time, Saudi profited from a freekick to draw level.

Up next for the Super Eagles is another friendly game against Mozambique on Monday, 16 October.

In the 6th minute Alex Iwobi tried a volley on the edge of the box but his goal-bound shot was blocked for a corner.

The Eagles went close on 10 minutes, as Boniface outmuscled his marker, broke on the left but his dangerous aimed at Victor Osimhen was palmed away by the Saudi keeper.

Osimhen almost opened the scoring on 17 minutes but could not direct Bruno Onyemaechi’s low cross from the left.

Saudi Arabia had their keeper to thank as his good save on 19 minutes denied Boniface the opener.

The Super Eagles continued to create chances and were almost rewarded with 15 minutes left in the first half after Onyemaechi’s cross found Chukwueze, but the AC Milan forward’s curler went just wide.

Saudi Arabia had their first effort on goal in the 36th minute but Francis Uzoho made a good save.

In the 43rd minute Osimhen saw his attempt scrape the cross bar while Ademola Lookman saw his strike go just wide after a fine through pass from Chukwueze.

Five minutes into the second half Iwobi made a timely block off a dangerous cross for a corner to Saudi Arabia.

The Eagles were forced into an early substitution on 55 minutes as Osimhen went off with a knock and was replaced by Terem Moffi.

Saudi Arabia took the lead on 60 minutes through Salman Al Faraj as Uzoho palmed a swung in freekick into the back of the net.

Few minutes later Saudi went close again but Calvin Bassey made a very vital block.

In the 68th minute Boniface tried a shot just outside the box only to see his effort go over the bar.

The Eagles equalised on 72 minutes as Abdulelah Al Amri slotted Moses Simon’s cross into his own net.

Iheanacho made it 2-1 in the 81st minute as he curled into the back of the net after the Saudis failed to clear their lines.

Umar Sadiq should have added the third on 85 minutes but failed to connect with Iheanacho’s cross.

In the 89th minute Iheanacho hit a good strike which the keeper punched away.

But in the 99th minute Mohamed Kanno saw his well taken freekick take a slight deflection and ended in the back of the net.