3 نقاط ذهبية.. جابر لـ«عكاظ»:عالجوا ثغرات الدفاع قبل مواجهة العراق

The Saudi national team snatched a very valuable victory against the Indonesian national team, securing 3 golden points on home soil, while star player Saleh Abu Shamat and striker Firas Al-Buraikan made a notable presence in one of the most sensitive matches. The team also survived the last quarter of an hour when the Indonesians nearly equalized, thanks to some good luck. Asian lecturer and Saudi coach Yahya Jaber described in his talk to "Okaz" the strengths and weaknesses of the match, along with several recommendations before the upcoming match against Iraq, which requires ensuring the strength of the flanks and supporting the sides during transitions, tightening defense, maintaining team cohesion, practicing speed in performance, cooperation, and physical strength in individual, collective, and aerial competitions.

Strengths of the Saudi national team

1- Quick reaction after the shock:

Conceding an early goal could have unsettled the Saudi formation, but the reaction was decisive and swift through controlling the match and regaining the initiative.

2- Offensive effectiveness:

Utilizing opportunities when presented, especially executing the penalty kick accurately by Al-Buraikan, and capitalizing on rebounds demonstrated a good ability to convert control into goals.

3- Determination and control of the match

After taking the lead, the Green team largely dominated the flow of the game and reduced the opponent's chances in the second half.

Weaknesses and risks:

1- Coverage issues on the flanks:

Defensive gaps appeared at the full-backs, which the opponent could exploit through side penetrations.

2- Unstable start

Conceding a goal from an early penalty indicates that the defensive organization in the initial minutes was fragile, especially in dealing with mistakes or quick transitions.

3- Reliance on penalties and set pieces

The penalty kick and the follow-up situation "for Al-Juwair's shot" constituted a large part of the sources of goals, which could be a problem if these opportunities are not available in stronger matches.

4- Managing the match in critical moments

It is still unknown how the team dealt with the opponent's pressure in the final minutes or how they maintained balance, but defensive management in the final phase is usually scrutinized in such matches.

Recommendations before the upcoming match:

Jaber stated that there are 4 very important recommendations before the match against Iraq, which are:

1- Strengthening defensive balance, especially on the flanks, to prevent sudden penetrations.

2- Focusing on organizing the first 15 minutes of the match to limit early surprises.

3- Diversifying attacking methods so that the team does not rely heavily on penalties or set-piece opportunities.

4- Maintaining physical fitness and mental focus, especially in the final minutes.