Green Falcons’ 3-0 victory means they are now one win away from reaching the last four and place in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup A first-half goal from Mohammed Al-Muwallad sent the team on their way Saudi Arabia entered the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup in fine form after a 3-0 win over China on Thursday made it a perfect group stage with a maximum nine points collected. A first-half goal from Mohammed Al-Muwallad sent the team on their way, and the points were sealed after the break, thanks to Nawaf Al-Bishri and Amar Al-Yuhaybi, on a comfortable evening in Chonburi, Thailand, for the Group C winners. Now thoughts turn to Monday’s quarterfinal. The opponents remain to be confirmed, but there is the added prize on offer for the team that progresses to the last four: a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year. Unsurprisingly, with a spot in the last eight already secured following wins over Australia and Tajikistan, coach Abdel Wahab Al-Harbi rested some of the young stars who had impressed in the opening two games. Al-Bishri and Nawaf Al-Jadaani got on the scoresheet in the opener and were benched, as was Talal Hajji, who scored both against the central Asian team on Monday. Even without such talent, Saudi Arabia rarely looked troubled. Despite an early effort from the boys in red that flew just over, the young Green Falcons took control in the first half. Al-Muwallad almost opened the scoring with what would surely have been the goal of the tournament on the half-hour. China cleared a free-kick twice, but the forward stood with his back to goal on the edge of the area, chested the ball down and then let fly with a beautiful overhead kick that hit the bar. He struck the Thai turf in frustration in the knowledge that mere millimeters had prevented a truly special goal. The deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time. Bder Al-Bishy beat his man on the right side, got to the byline, then capped the display of old-fashioned wing wizardry by delivering the perfect cross. Al-Muwallad was, for some reason, left alone in the six-yard box and nodded comfortably home. Al-Yuhaybi should perhaps have extended the lead just after the restart, but his shot from inside the area was too close to goalkeeper Victory and the perfect group stage was sealed with 15 minutes remaining. Al-Bishri was freed from the left and burst into the area. When he cut inside Wu Qipeng, many expected that the forward would square the ball to Al-Jadaani, who had come on as a second-half substitute, but instead he fired home with a low shot. In injury time, Al-Yuhaybi made it three, taking advantage of a mistake in defense to turn and shoot home from close range. That was that and it was a happy bunch of players who shook hands with their Chinese counterparts, who are now eliminated. With nine points collected and no goals conceded in 270 minutes of football so far, Saudi Arabia will enter the last eight full of confidence, knowing that they are within touching distance of the World Cup.