FOOTBALL – Saudi Arabia secured a 3-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico yesterday 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.
Meanwhile, 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, a final warm-up fixture for both teams before they head to the World Cup.
The Saudi-Puerto Rico 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.
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.
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