Saudi Arabia were lucky to force the game into extra time after Kuwait were denied by the post three times in the first half of the match that was played in Yemeni city Aden.

Walid Ali scored Kuwait's winner in the fourth minute of extra time with a powerful left-foot shot from a tight angle.

The win gives Kuwait a timely boost ahead of January's AFC Asian Cup, which will take place in Qatar.

Kuwait were drawn in Group A along with hosts Qatar, China and Uzbekistan.