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Tunisia the 2004 African nations Champions and the almost ever present in World Cup Saudi Arabia side would have both been looking for a victory after Spain demolished the other group H side Ukraine earlier, however with their first game under the belt, both sides will be hoping to cause so problems in their next two group games.
Tunisia, the most favoured African outfit to do well in the competition, started with Jaidi or Bolton at the back alongside Trabelsi of Ajax and the oldest player in the FIFA World Cup in goal Boumnijel, who at forty was playing in his third consecutive tournament.
The Saudi's named a fairly standard side and one which had qualified for the World Cup with ease, upfront they began with Al Temyat and Al Kahtani in place of the experience Sami Al Jaber.
The Asian side got off to a nervous start giving the ball away far too often and were under attack from striker Jaziri from the first minute. The quick Tunisian striker began with a flourish and tested the defense with his patience on two occasions before netting his sides first goal.
Awarded a free kick in a crossing position the bal was swung in and after a poor header by Tuker and dithering from Al Montashari, Jaziri pounced with a spectacula volley to give his side a 1-0 lead.
The goal was taken excellently and was deserving reward for the strikers early intentions to score goals. He was unlucky not to claim a penalty early in the game also with some clumsy defending promting appeals from the Tunisians however their appeals were waved away.
One of the players at fault for the Tunisian goal Tuker nearly made ammends for his mistake with a teriffic free kick effort which Boumnijel saved well. The Tunisians however began sitting back in the first half and allowed the Saudi's to get plenty of posession and build up their confidence was shot by conceeding the early goal.
Saudi midfielder Noor began taking a more major role in the game and his increased ability to get on the ball and dictate posession was a big factor in the Arabians beginning to claw back the defecit. The midfield man himself had a chance to score but he flicked the ball just wide of the Tunisian goal.
Undetered by his prior miss Noor set up Al Kahtani soon after and justified his selection by scoring netting a well taken goal to pull the game back level. The Saudi's now on the up brought on Al Jaber all time record goalscorer for their nation and instantly he became involved, firing just wide after some poor Tunisian defending.
Once more not mentally flagging because of an earlier miss the Saudi player making his 161st appearance slotted the ball past Boumnijel after speeding clear of the Tunisian defense. Indeed it could have been much worse for Tunisia moments later when their cross bar was struck from a free kick by captain Hussein Sulaimani.
However in the dying minutes Bolton defender Jaidi, so dangerous at set pieces rescued a point for his team with a thumping header into the net after a cross from the Tunisian left.
With the game suprisingly open the Saudi Arabians will be disapointed to have been so close to victory but from their prior position would have gladly taken a point. Tunisia face Spain next and must hope to play like they did in the second half or suffer the fate of Ukraine earlier today.