Saudi Arabia secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico in an international friendly played in the United States, marking the Green Falcons’ first win under newly appointed head coach Georgios Donis as preparations continue for the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The match experienced a significant interruption when severe thunderstorms and lightning forced play to stop in the 21st minute. Following U.S. safety regulations, players and spectators were required to leave the field area, resulting in a delay of nearly two hours before the game could resume.
Despite the disruption, Saudi Arabia quickly regained momentum and opened the scoring just before halftime through Sultan Mandash, who capitalized on a defensive mistake inside the penalty area.
The Green Falcons doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Abdullah Al Hamdan won possession high up the pitch and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0 in the 50th minute.
Captain Salem Al Dawsari sealed the victory in the 88th minute with an excellent solo effort, completing a convincing performance and ensuring a confidence-boosting result for the Saudi side.
The win comes after Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 defeat against Ecuador in their previous friendly, providing a positive response and valuable momentum ahead of their final warm-up match against Senegal on June 9.
Saudi Arabia will then begin their World Cup campaign in Group H, where they are set to face Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde, as they aim to make a strong impression on the global stage.
