JEDDAH, 21 December 2004 — The stage is set for what could well be an explosive final between Oman and Qatar after both teams posted decisive semifinal victories yesterday in the 17th Gulf Cup Championship in Doha.
Oman raised their game to the next level and comprehensively beat Bahrain 3-2 in a big win that put the Omanis a step closer to winning their first ever Gulf Cup title.
Hosts Qatar are also looking to make history after beating nine-time champion Kuwait 2-0 in the second semifinal match.
Victory in Friday’s final would enable the Qataris to duplicate their feat in 1992 when they hosted and won the cup as well.
At the rate Oman are playing it looks unlikely Qatar would repeat their 2-1 win during the group matches in Group A.
The bet is that Oman, with a display of high quality soccer yesterday, will be going all the way for the elusive crown.
Oman, who has dropped only one match thus far in the elite 8-team tournament, came to the match determined to fulfill their date with history.
Oman dominated for the better part of the game with a free-flowing soccer. The most dangerous chance was in the 23rd minute when Fawzi Basheer missed the chance to put Oman on the scoresheet as he came face -to -face with the goalie but was saved by Bahrain’s goalkeeper Ali Hassan.
Oman added more pressure to Bahrain in the last 10 minutes and their effort paid off when Emad Sulaiman, leading scorer of the tournament, scored on a header in the 43rd minute for Oman first goal.
Badr Al-Maymani, took advantage of a fatal mistake by Bahrain defender Muhammad Hussein to score the second goal for Oman. When many people thought that the game would be a cakewalk for Oman, Bahrain answered in the 57th minute through Mahmoud Galal’s fine shot from outside the penalty box scoring the first goal for Bahrain. Bahrain added more pressure and pushed forward searching for the equalizer, which came in the 77th minute By Naser Duaiej fine header from a corner kick tying the series 2-2. Emad Sulaiman scored on a free kick in the 82nd minute to compete his double for Oman
Qatar goals came in the 38th minute by Sayed Basheer and in the 88th minute by Naser Kameel on a penalty kick.
The final match is set for next Friday.
