By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW), received Monday in his office in Riyadh the former Saudi national football player Saeed Al-Owairan who earned the distinction of scoring one of the top 10 great goals in World Cup Finals.
The Telegraph and World Soccer Magazine, which teamed up to find out the greatest goals of World Cup Finals, have recorded Owairan’s goal against Belgium in the first round of World Cup 1994 at the RFK stadium as the third best.
The Daily Telegraph said in its report that despite the exit in the second round Saudis left the USA World Cup with their heads high due to that strike of Al-Owairan – which earned him the nickname “The Maradona of the Arabs”. However, the real Maradona’s goal against England in 1986 came first. The second was again by Maradona in the same ‘86 World Cup against Belgium.
After losing the opener 2-1 to Holland Saudi Arabia beat Morocco by the same score and needed just a draw against Belgium to ensure qualification for the second round.
But Saudis did better. Just five minutes after the kick-off Owairan took possession deep inside the Saudi half, looked up and dribbled the ball forward and Belgians fell back, waiting for him to pass the ball. Owairan, instead, continued his way towards the goal and fired past goalkeeper Michel Preud’homme.
Owairan scored 24 goals in 50 international appearances and was also a member of the Saudi squad at the 1998 World Cup.
Prince Sultan congratulated Owairan and also offered prize money for what he has contributed to the Saudi sports.
The meeting was also attended by Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, Deputy President of the GPYW.
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