Tunisia and Saudi Arabia played out an uninspiring 2-2 draw that only really came to life when the Saudis took the lead six minutes from time.

The game was a scrappy affair from the start but Tunisia found their rhythm first and had the better of the opening exchanges.

The first half-hour was a flurry of throw-ins and free-kicks and it was from a dead-ball situation that Tunisia opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.

Riadh Bouazizi was fouled outside the Saudi area but when the free-kick was whipped into the box it was met by the head of a Saudi defender.

However, he could not get any power on his clearing header and, as the ball looped into the air, Zied Jaziri executed an acrobatic volley to put Tunisia in the lead.

The rest of the half was all about Tunisia but, despite all of their possession, they could not muster a meaningful attack and went into the interval with just the one goal to show for their endeavours.

Saudi Arabia must have been given the hair dryer treatment at half-time as they came out for the second half with infinitely more purpose and should have equalised just two minutes after the restart.

A long ball was pumped towards the Tunisian area and Karim Haggui made a mess of his clearance to present Mohammed Noor with a great chance six yards out.

But the Saudi number eight hesitated and could only get a weak flick on the ball and it drifted wide.

The Saudis were level ten minutes later though after a quick attack released Noor down the right. He whipped in a low cross that was met full on the volley by Yaser Al-Kahtani who steered the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Saudi Arabia were now attacking with more purpose and Tunisia were looking devoid of any ideas, insisting on lumping the ball to Jaziri up front.

The Saudis' renewed efforts were rewarded on 84 minutes when substitute Sami Al-Jaber ran onto a throughball before slotting his shot past the keeper.

The Saudi's most capped player had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he was played through after a quick Saudi Arabia break.

His cool finish looked to have set up a dream ending for the Saudis and they were just two minutes away from a win when Radhi Jaidi levelled for Tunisia.

Just minutes after Hussein Sulimani had hit a free-kick against Ali Boumnijel's upright, Tunisia broke away and Jaziri clipped a ball into the six-yard box that Jaidi headed powerfully past Mabrouk Zaid.

The Saudis will be heartbroken to have not picked up all three points and, in reality, a draw was not much use to either team and, on the basis of this match, Ukraine must still feel that they have a good chance of qualifying from Group H.