Saudi routs Uzbekistan 4-0 to win World Cup qualifying group

Saudi Arabia won its World Cup qualifying group by routing Uzbekistan 4-0 on Sunday.

Both teams had already secured advancement to the next round, but Saudi Arabia needed to win by at least two goals to finish first in Group 4.

Abdoh Autef gave the hosts the lead in the sixth minute, before Malek Al Hawsawi added the second in the 37th minute. The Saudi's kept playing aggressive in the second half, and Saad Al Harthi added an insurance goal in the 56th before Al Hawsawi scored his second in the 88th.

"It was a good match which was the fruit of our coach Nasser al-Jawhar, who will continue to lead the team through the qualifications," Prince Sultan bin Fahd, the head of the Saudi football federation, told the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan both finished with 15 points atop Group 4, with the Saudis ahead on goal difference. Singapore finished third with six points, while Lebanon had zero.