Saudi Arabia 2-1 North Macedonia Player Ratings: Abdullah Al Hamdan rated 8/10 as Saudi Late Winner Seals Comeback Victory 2-1

Saudi Arabia faced North Macedonia at FK Viktoria stadium in an interesting international friendly. The match saw a strong audience turnout as the stadium was half-filled, creating an enthusiastic environment for the home side. The Saudi Arabia vs North Macedonia match started with both teams sharing almost an equal amount of possession till the 15th minute. By the 20-minute mark, Saudi Arabia shifted to a defensive stance, relying on quick counterattacks, while the game became an intense back-and-forth battle with chances at both ends. However, the long-range shots and through balls attempt remained as a failed attempt; one pass created a chance for Macedonian striker Aleksandar Trajkovski, which he converted and led the fixture by 1 goal until Saudi Arabian player Albrikan scored an equalizer just before the half-time whistle.

The second half started with both teams showing hunger to take the lead, but the deadlock was broken in the 78th minute when Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored. The comeback goal came as a shocker for the visitors, from which they never came out, and the Saudi Arabia vs North Macedonia match ended up in favour of the hosts by the scoreline of 2-1.

Saudi Arabia Player Ratings vs North Macedonia

Here are the Saudi Arabia Player Ratings vs North Macedonia

Goalkeeper

Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi - 6.0: A mixed performance from the keeper. He made a crucial save in the first half to keep his team in the game. However, he couldn't do much about the well-placed header for the goal. The yellow card he picked up late on for a rash challenge was a moment of madness that could have cost his team.

Defenders

Hassan Tambakti - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing. He was strong in his duels and made several important clearances. We noticed he was composed on the ball, which helped settle the backline during periods of pressure. He did his job without any major fuss.

Abdullah Al-Khaibari - 6.0: A frustrating performance to watch. While his passing was tidy, he committed a staggering four fouls, repeatedly breaking up play. He seemed a step behind the pace at times and was fortunate not to get booked. Needs to be more disciplined.

Mohammed Sulaiman - 7.0: Quietly one of the most effective players on the pitch. A 100% pass completion rate for a defender is genuinely remarkable. He read the game well, making four clearances, and only lost possession once. A very clean and efficient performance.

Midfielders

Musab Al-Juwayr - 7.5: He was the engine room for Saudi Arabia before his substitution. His passing was crisp and forward-thinking, creating two chances for his teammates. It was his excellent cross that led to Kanno hitting the woodwork. A very impressive display of midfield control.

Saad Al-Nasser - 6.5: Played only the first half but was tidy enough. He drew a few fouls and helped his team gain territory. Didn't make a huge impact on the game but didn't do anything wrong either. A steady, if forgettable, 45 minutes.

Moteb Al-Harbi - 7.0: A constant threat down the left side. He was always looking to get forward and had two shots, one of which forced a good save. His energy was infectious and he gave the opposition defenders a tough time until he was subbed off late in the game.

Mohamed Kanno - 7.0: The captain led by example with an all-action display. He was so unlucky to see his powerful header crash back off the crossbar. His physicality was crucial in the midfield battle, though the yellow card was a slight blemish on an otherwise strong performance.

Forwards

Firas Al-Buraikan - 7.5: The goalscorer. He took his chance brilliantly, showing great composure to slot home the equalizer. His movement was sharp and he was a constant nuisance for the defenders. His goal was the catalyst for the comeback.

Abdulrahman Al-Oboud - 6.5: A lively presence in the attack. He got a shot on target and was always willing to run at his man. From our perspective, his final ball or decision sometimes let him down. He worked hard for the team before being substituted.

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat - 8.0: What a creative force he was. He provided the brilliant assist for the equalizer and created two other big chances. Everything good about Saudi Arabia's attack seemed to flow through him. Our highest-rated player for the home side, a joy to watch.

Substitutes

Abdullah Al Hamddan - 8.0: The super sub and the match-winner. To come on and score such a fantastic goal from outside the box is what dreams are made of. A game-changing contribution that won his team the match.

Manager

H. Renard - 7.5: The manager deserves huge credit for this win. His substitutions were perfectly timed and incredibly effective. Bringing on Abdullah Al Hamddan was a masterstroke that directly led to the victory. He outmaneuvered his counterpart tactically in the second half.

North Macedonia Player Ratings vs Saudi Arabia

Here are the North Macedonia Player Ratings vs Saudi Arabia

Goalkeeper

Stole Dimitrievski - 6.5: The captain was a busy man. He made five saves and commanded his box well for the most part. He couldn't have done anything about the two goals he conceded. A respectable performance under difficult circumstances.

Defenders

Nikola Serafimov - 5.0: A day to forget for the defender. He struggled badly, losing all of his duels and committing three fouls. He looked completely off the pace and was a weak link in the backline. From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch.

Visar Musliu - 6.0: He was slightly better than his central defensive partner. He won most of his duels and made a couple of key interceptions. However, he was still part of a defense that buckled under pressure and conceded twice.

Ezgjan Alioski - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet first half from him. He is known for his attacking prowess but offered very little going forward. He committed three fouls and was eventually substituted at halftime. A disappointing outing.

Stefan Despotovski - 6.5: Provided a wonderful cross for the opening goal, which was the highlight of his match. Otherwise, he was a mixed bag, getting caught offside twice and losing possession frequently. The assist bumps up his rating.

Darko Velkovski - 6.0: Another player who only featured in the first half. He was solid enough, making a few important clearances and interceptions. He didn't do much wrong before being withdrawn at the break.

Midfielders

Isnik Alimi - 6.0: He put in a shift defensively but struggled to make an impact on the game. His passing was wayward at times, and he was often bypassed by the Saudi Arabian midfield. Substituted after an hour.

Jani Atanasov - 6.5: A solid, battling performance in the middle. He recovered the ball an impressive nine times, showing great defensive awareness. He kept his passing simple and effective, providing a decent screen for his defense.

Luka Stankovski - 6.5: Looked bright and inventive during his time on the pitch. He created a chance and completed a successful dribble. It was a bit of a surprise to see him taken off, as he seemed one of North Macedonia's better players.

Forwards

Aleksandar Trajkovski - 8.0: The clear man of the match. In the first half, he was simply unplayable. He scored a fantastic header and was a constant thorn in the side of the Saudi defense, drawing five fouls. His influence waned after the break, but his first-half display was superb.

Milan Ristovski - 6.0: He worked tirelessly up front but had very little service to work with. He struggled to get into the game and failed to register a shot on target. A frustrating evening for the striker.

Substitutes

Enis Bardhi & Eljif Elmas - 6.0: The two star players were brought on to change the game but failed to make the desired impact. They couldn't wrestle control back from a determined Saudi Arabia side.

Manager

R. Stojanovski - 6.0: His team started the game perfectly with a clear plan that led to the opening goal. However, his side seemed to lose their way after conceding the equalizer. His second-half changes failed to swing the momentum back in his team's favor.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Abdullah Al Hamdan