Saudi, Syria in 1-1 draw

Osama Al Hawsawi fired the Saudis into the lead in the 22nd minute before the Syrians restored parity in the second half through Raja Rafaee.

Syria took early control of the game with Maher Al Said and Mahmoud Amneh testing the Saudi goalkeeper with good shots.

But the Saudis edged ahead against the run of play when Al Hawsawi headed a corner kick past Syrian goalkeeper Ridhwan Al Azhar.

The Syrians managed the equaliser in the 50th minute when Rafaee put the ball in off a rebound.

The match was the second of two friendlies the Saudis had scheduled ahead of the Gulf Cup, which kicks off on January 4, 2009.