Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia secured a spot in the Asian Cup knockout rounds on Sunday with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan, who played with only nine men for almost half of the game. Despite being ranked 56th in the world compared to Kyrgyzstan's 98th position, the Saudi team struggled against their depleted opponents before advancing to the next round alongside holders Qatar, Iran, Iraq, and Australia.

The Saudis, who had previously claimed a last-minute 2-1 win over Oman in their opening match, now have six points from two games as they aim for their fourth Asian crown. Kyrgyzstan, the clear underdogs even with 11 men, faced an uphill battle after Ayzar Akmatov was sent off in the ninth minute for a dangerous challenge. The referee initially issued a yellow card but upgraded it to a red after a VAR check.

Despite the numerical advantage, the Saudis initially failed to convert their dominance into goals, with Feras Al-Brikan missing two clear opportunities. However, they eventually broke the deadlock when Mohamed Kanno volleyed home a cross from Saud Abdulhamid in the 35th minute. Kyrgyzstan's situation worsened when Kimi Merk was also sent off after a VAR review in the 52nd minute.

In the same group, Thailand managed a goalless draw against Oman, inching closer to the last 16 in Qatar. Thailand coach Masatada Ishii expressed satisfaction with the result, stating that while they initially aimed for three points, they were content with one given the circumstances. With the top two teams from each group guaranteed to progress, and the possibility of third place being sufficient, the tournament's dynamics are poised for an exciting final round of group games.

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