Late-Win Heroics: Saudi Olympic U23 Down Kyrgyzstan as Ghamdi Shines Despite Injury
6 January 2026
Post-match reflections
The Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio, head coach of the Saudi Olympic team, praised Rakan Al-Ghamdi after he scored the winner against Kyrgyzstan in the AFC U23 Championship opener.
Al-Ghamdi struck in the 88th minute to give the Green Falcons a 1-0 win at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, in the first group game of the Asian championship.
Di Biagio told the press that the players delivered a beautiful performance and dominated possession about 75% of the time.
He added that opening games are always tough and that the team will work on improvements in the upcoming fixtures.
He also noted that Al-Ghamdi had been dealing with an injury and the decision to start him was not certain, praising the medical staff and the player for their effort.
The coach also commented on the injury suffered by striker Abdullah Radeef, which forced him off in the 13th minute, saying he had some discomfort even before kick-off.
Saudi will play their second match on Friday against Jordan, who lost to Vietnam 2-0 in the opening round.
Key moments
That late winner keeps Saudi in contention in Group A as they pursue a place in the knockout stage.
Next up: Jordan visit, a test that will demand the same intensity and precision from the Saudi squad.
Punchlines: 1) If football were a sniper, that 88th-minute strike would be a surgical headshot—timed, precise, and decisive. 2) For those who say timing is everything, the 88th minute just hijacked the post-match briefing with applause.
