Renard Secures First Victory in Return as Saudi Arabia Coach

Hervé Renard celebrated his first victory in his return to the Saudi Arabia national team as they defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in a friendly match held at Al-Shabab Stadium.

The match, played behind closed doors without fans or media present, served as preparation for Saudi Arabia's upcoming Gulf Cup campaign. Renard opted to field a second-string lineup in the first half before introducing key players after halftime.

Saleh Al-Shehri opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in the 25th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Abdullah Al-Hamdan doubled the lead in the 65th minute, followed by a third goal from Nasser Al-Dawsari in the 82nd minute. Trinidad and Tobago managed a late consolation goal in the 90th minute, but Saudi Arabia emerged with a comfortable 3-1 victory.

Renard’s return has sparked renewed hopes for Saudi Arabia as they prepare for the Gulf Cup, scheduled to take place in Kuwait from January 1 to January 12. The Saudi team will face Bahrain, Yemen, and Iraq in the group stage of the tournament.

This win marks an important step for Renard, whose team had previously drawn against Australia and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Indonesia in earlier matches.