Great World Cup moments No13

Any goal scored in the rarefied atmosphere of the World Cup finals seems to take on an extra significance and grandeur, but few can compare with the strike by Saudi Arabia's Saeed Al Owairan in the 1994 tournament in the United States.

The Saudi midfielder's goal against Belgium in Washington was voted Goal of the Tournament and has to rate as one of the best in the history of the finals.

Having lost to Holland and beaten Morocco in their first two games, Saudi Arabia needed to defeat Belgium to become the first Asian side since North Korea in 1966 to reach the second round.

With the game tied at 0-0, Owairan received the ball in his own half before beating four Belgian players with an utterly mesmerising run towards the penalty area, before giving keeper Michel Preud'homme no chance with a fierce drive from the edge of the area.

Owairan's wonder strike was the only goal of the game as the Saudis progressed to the next stage before losing to Sweden in the second round.

Owairan was labelled the Maradona of the Arabs in his homeland, where he quickly assumed hero status. His newfound-star billing didn't last long, however, before he was found guilty by an Islamic court of "immoral acts" in 1996, and was promptly banned from football for a year.

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