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Saudi Arabia secured a 3-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico on Saturday in a match disrupted for nearly two hours by severe weather, earning their first victory under new coach Georgios Donis ahead of the World Cup in North America.
The game was halted in the 21st minute as thunderstorms and lightning forced players off the pitch and spectators to seek shelter, in accordance with US safety protocols that suspend play when storms are detected within an 8-mile radius.
Repeated lightning strikes led to multiple resets of the mandatory 30-minute delay before play eventually resumed. Saudi Arabia took the lead just before halftime when Sultan Mandash capitalised on a defensive lapse inside the penalty area, before Abdullah Al Hamdan doubled the advantage in the 50th minute with a composed finish over the advancing goalkeeper after winning possession high up the pitch.
Captain Salem Al Dawsari wrapped up the scoring in the 88th minute with a fine solo run, giving Saudi Arabia a confidence-boosting win after their 2-1 loss to Ecuador. They will face Senegal on June 9 in their final warm-up before opening their World Cup campaign in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
Striker Romelu Lukaku continued his comeback for Belgium with 25 minutes off the bench as they enjoyed a 5-0 victory over 10-man Tunisia on Saturday, a final warm-up fixture for both teams before they head to the US for the World Cup.
Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin scored the goals as Lukaku grabbed an assist, making his second international appearance in a year having netted against Croatia on his return on Tuesday.
Lukaku did not make a single start for Napoli in Serie A this season.
The form of winger Jeremy Doku, who was superb on the left wing, underlined why he may be a star of the World Cup.
Doku’s trickery laid on two goals, including a tap-in for Trossard, before De Ketelaere headed in from close range via Youri Tielemans’ cross.
Tunisia midfielder Ismael Gharbi received a second booking in the 62nd minute for a lunge on Doku such was the North Africans’ difficulty in containing the winger. Three minutes later Doku set up De Bruyne to make it 3-0 with a shot from outside the box, before Lukebakio scrambled the ball home from Lukaku’s touch and Raskin added the fifth.
Belgium open their World Cup Group G campaign on June 15 against Egypt in Seattle.
Co-hosts Canada held by Ireland: World Cup co-hosts Canada were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday despite dominating their final warm-up friendly before the tournament kicks off next week.
Canada have never won a World Cup game but have shot up the FIFA rankings in recent years and, with home advantage and stars like Alphonso Davies, will be looking to make a real impact this year.
But despite controlling the game in Montreal, and the gift of a first-half Ireland own goal, the Canadians could not secure the win.
They conceded an equalizer on the hour mark to Chiedozie Ogbene, who pounced on the rebound from Troy Parrott’s well-saved penalty.
Playing against an Irish team that will not feature at the World Cup, it was a disappointing result for Canada, especially after a promising 2-0 win over Uzbekistan earlier this week.
“Obviously, we wish we could have gotten more goals and gotten the win, but I think the energy from the start, the way to go after the game, the ideas in the game, (were) really good,” said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.
Meanwhile, teenage Germany forward Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining an injury in training, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on Friday.
“Lenny tore a muscle bundle today in the final training season and is ruled out because of this injury. Have a good recovery, we’re thinking of you,” the DFB said on Instagram.
Germany have called up RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo to replace the 18-year-old Bayern Munich player.
Agencies
