SPORTS> Team News
Saudi Arabia crash to Turkey in World Cup warm-up
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-06-01 10:36
OFFENBACH, Germany - Saudi Arabia did themselves no favours in a warm-up game for the World Cup, crashing to a 1-0 defeat to Turkey.

With just two weeks to go before their opening World Cup clash against Tunisia in a tough Group H that also includes Spain and Ukraine, Galatasaray striker Necati Ates scored in the 59th minute to break the hearts of the "Sons of the Desert".

The result leaves the Saudi team, coached by Brazilian Carlos Paqueta, with just one win in its four warm-up matches for football's showpiece tournament.

A 1-0 victory over fellow finalists Togo has been overshadowed by recent losses to Belgium (2-1) and the Czech Republic (2-0).

Playing a 4-5-1 formation, Saudi Arabia failed to claw back an equaliser despite the introduction late on of Al-Hilal strike duo Sami al-Jaber and Mohammed al-Anbar.

Saudi Arabia lost all three matches in the 2002 World Cup, failing to score and suffering an 8-0 drubbing by Germany into the bargain.

The team reached the second round in the 1994 edition, but they will have their work cut out when the real business gets under way next month.