Match No. 641 - Wednesday, 16th November 1988, 7:00pm

  • "The referee, Jasem Mandi from Bahrain, stepped into the way of the ball inside from Pearce intended for Beardsley, and it was this, as much as the speed of the Saudi counter-attack, that caught England unawares...Sterland, who had doen well to race across from right ot left in an effort to smother the danger, then stood off Majed and allowed him to cut inside before beating Seaman with a shot which the newly capped goalkeeper half stopped." Majid Abdullah, 15'14:59
    • 1
    • Abdullah Al-DeayeaAbdullah Jamal Al-Deayea.
      Born 1st Dec 1961, Ha'il.
    • Off '4645:44
    • 5
    • Saleh Al-NeimahSaleh Mohammed Ibrahim AL NEIMAH.
      Born 24th Jun 1960.
      (c)
    • 4
    • Ahmed Jameel MadiniAhmed Jameel MADANI.
      Born 4th Jan 1970.
    • 2
    • Abdullah Salah Al-DosariAbdullah Saleh AL DOSARI.
      Born 1st Nov 1969.
    • 13
    • Mohamed Abd Al-JawadMohamed Abd Al-Jawad.
      Born 28th Nov 1962, Jeddah.
    • 10
    • Fahad Al-MosaibethFahad Al Mosaibeth.
      Born 4th Apr 1961.
    • 6
    • Saleh Al-SalehSaleh Al Saleh AL MUTLAK.
      Born 3rd Jan 1966.
    • 11
    • Mehaisen Al-DosariMehaisen Al Jamman AL DOSARI.
      Born 6th Apr 1966.
    • Off '8079:06
    • 17
    • Saad MubarakSaad Saeed MUBARAK Al Dossary.
    • 19
    • Mohammed SwayedMohammed Swayed Mahbob AL SHAHRANI.
    • Off '7574:30
    • 9
    • Majid AbdullahMajed Ahmed ABDULLAH Mohammed.
      Born 1st Nov 1959.
    • 1
    • Khaled Al-SabiyaniKhaled Al Sabiyani.
    • On '4645:44
    • 15
    • Youssef Al-TunayanYoussef Nasser AL TUNAYAN.
      Born 18th Nov 1963.
    • On '7574:30
    • 14
    • Khaled Al-MuwallidKhaled Massad AL MUWALLID.
      Born 23rd Nov 1971.
    • On '8079:06
  • Assist: David Rocastle. "Adams brought the scores level with a powerful header from Rocastle's free kick in the 54th minute." Tony Adams4th of 5 goals. Header from 5 yards., 55' 54:04
    • 1
    • David SeamanQPR, 1st of 75 caps
      25 years, 1 month, 27 days
      Goalkeeper
    • 2
    • Mel SterlandSheffield Wed, Only Cap
      27 years, 1 month, 15 days
      Right Back
    • 3
    • Stuart PearceNotts Forest, 8th of 78 caps
      26 years, 6 months, 22 days
      Left Back
    • 4
    • Michael ThomasArsenal, 1st of 2 caps
      21 years, 2 months, 23 days
      Defensive Midfield
    • Off '8180:30
    • 5
    • Tony AdamsArsenal, 17th of 66 caps
      22 years, 1 month, 6 days
      Centre Back
    • 6
    • Gary PallisterMiddlesbrough, 2nd of 22 caps
      23 years, 4 months, 16 days
      Centre Back
    • 7
    • Bryan RobsonMan Utd, 72nd of 90 caps
      31 years, 10 months, 5 days
      Midfield
      (c)48th captaincy
    • 8
    • David RocastleArsenal, 2nd of 14 caps
      21 years, 6 months, 14 days
      Right Midfield
    • 9
    • Peter BeardsleyLiverpool, 29th of 59 caps
      27 years, 9 months, 29 days
      Centre Forward
    • Off '6968:06
    • 10
    • Gary LinekerBarcelona, 37th of 80 caps
      27 years, 11 month, 16 days
      Centre Forward
    • 11
    • Chris WaddleSpurs, 38th of 62 caps
      27 years, 11 month, 2 days
      Left Midfield
    • Off '8180:31
    • 15
    • Alan SmithArsenal, 1st of 13 caps
      25 years, 11 month, 25 days
      Centre Forward
    • On '6968:06
    • 16
    • Brian MarwoodArsenal, Only Cap
      28 years, 9 months, 11 day
      Left Midfield
    • On '8180:30
    • 14
    • Paul GascoigneSpurs, 2nd of 57 caps
      21 years, 5 months, 20 days
      Midfield
    • On '8180:31

Notes

  • Player InjuryThe Saudi 'keeper Al-Deayea injures his hand in a collision with his own player Madini following an England corner [43:39]. Beacuse of this there were nearly four minutes of injury time at the end of the first half.
  • Shirt NumbersBoth Saudi goalkeepers wore number 1.
  • Disallowed GoalsThe linesmen were very trigger happy. England had three legitimate goals disallowed for offside. Tony Adams header was the first [7:45] and TV replays show he, and the two England players forward of him, were clearly onside. The second [33:22] was a Lineker effort ruled out even though he was at least a yard onside. In the second half Lineker scored with an overhead kick [61:05] but up went the flag again despite him being marginally on the correct side of the last defender. There were at least two other occasions when Lineker was flagged for offside when he wasn't.
  • Tabloid ResponseThe Daily Mirror headline response against Bobby Robson was "In the name of Allah go!"
  • Player MilestoneDavid Seaman's 1st Cap
  • Player MilestoneMel Sterland's Only Cap
  • Player MilestoneMichael Thomas' 1st Cap
  • Player MilestoneAlan Smith's 1st Cap
  • Player MilestoneBrian Marwood's Only Cap

Sources

  • England: The Complete Post-War Record by Mike Payne (Breedon Books Publishing Company 1993)
  • www.ksa-team.com
  • YouTube
  • The Guardian "England catch the desert shakes", Thursday, 17th November 1988, page 18.

Managers

Referee

  • Bahrain Jassim Mandi

Attendance

  • 8,000

Half Time Score

ELO Ratings

  • Down 2 places, losing -7 ranking points to 1884 points England - 9th - 2
  • Saudi Arabia - 75th