Players of Australia celebrate during the awarding ceremony for the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
SHENZHEN, China, Mar. 1 (Xinhua) -- Steven Hall saved the decisive spot-kick as Australia defeated Saudi Arabia 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the AFC U20 Asian Cup at the Baoan Sports Center Stadium here on Saturday.
The match ended 1-1 in regular time, with neither team able to break the deadlock in extra time. In the shootout, both teams converted their first four attempts, but in the decisive fifth round, Australia scored while Saudi Arabia's Bassam Hazazi saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Hall, securing a 5-4 victory for Australia.
Australia broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Alexander Badolato's cross into the box was deflected into the path of Louis Agosti, whose shot from just outside the box sailed past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Hamed Yousef and into the bottom-left corner.
Saudi Arabia equalized as Hall was just unable to keep Talal Haji's header from crossing the goal-line, with the goal confirmed after a VAR review.
Both sides missed a handful of chances in the second half before a fruitless additional 30 minutes of extra time led to the decisive shootout. ■
Team Australia celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia of AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
Team Australia celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia of AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
Alex Badolato (R) of Australia vies with Ziyad Abdullah Alghamdi of Saudi Arabia during the final at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
Luka Jovanovic of Australia shoots during the penalty shoot out of the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia of AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
Saleh Ali Barnawi of Saudi Arabia kicks a penalty during the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Bennie (front) of Australia breaks through during the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Goalkeeper of Saudi Arabia Hamed Abdullah Yousef reacts during the penalty shoot out of the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Bennie (R) of Australia vies with Ali Khairallah Almahdawi of Saudi Arabia during the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Team Australia celebrate during the awarding ceremony for the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Goalkeeper of Saudi Arabia Hamed Abdullah Yousef fails to save during the penalty shoot out of the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia at AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
(250301) -- SHENZHEN, March 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Awad Muhsen Aman (R) of Saudi Arabia passes the ball during the final between Australia and Saudi Arabia of AFC U20 Asian Cup football tournament in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
