JEDDAH: Oman made history at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex yesterday when they won the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup beating Asian giants Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 6-5 in a penalty shootout after both team failed to score during stipulated and extra time.
The Omani team did not disappoint their optimistic fans that turned out in thousands to watch their country rewrite history on home soil. A well-deserved win for Oman is what many sport critics and analysts described the match.
There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that dominated proceeding throughout 120 minutes of play.
The pressure was mostly on Majed Al-Marshadi, the best player in Gulf Cup, and his partner Osama Hawsawi, who managed to foil many dangerous attempts.
Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah gave another outstanding performance and was the star of his side and finished the tourney without conceding any goal during the match. His Omani counterpart Ali Al-Hibsi had a field day and was never tested today.
Oman meant business right from the kickoff and had their rivals, who relied on counterattacks, defending throughout the game.
The host ruled in midfield and attacked in waves from the right, left and center. The Saudis on the other hand concentrated mostly on the right wing for their attacks that were foiled by the solid Omani defense.
Oman had their best chance in the first half just before the breather when Isameel’s stiff long ranger had a goal look. But, Waleed Abdullah came to his side’s rescue parrying the ball that hit the crossbar the rebound that was scrambled by the Saudi defense. Oman always looked dangerous and pushed forward for the winning goal during regulation time but their attempts were foiled by the strong Saudi defense who put a commendable performance.
Emad Al-Husaini’s powerful header in the 83rd minute nearly clinched the issue for Oman. But this time the woodwork came to the Saudis’ rescue. The only Saudi attempt came from their captain Yasser Al-Qahtani in the 59th minute, when he snatched the ball from midfield and advanced, before lashing a tremendous shot that grazed the upright.
Nasser Al-Jowhar’s men could do little in attack as the Omanis, backed by the vociferous home fans, kept the pressure up as they had done in all their games.
The Saudi coach even replaced one of his experienced forwards Malek Muaz with the youngster Nayef Hazazi, but nothing seemed to work for them as Oman never allowed them to regroup by applying more pressure.
In the tiebreaker, Al-Qahtani, Saud Kariri, Reda Tukar, Ahmad Utaif and Osama Hawsawi made no mistake for Saudis.
Khalefa Ayel, Ismaeel Al-Azmi, Hasan Mudaffar, Rashed Saleh and Fawzi Basheer were on target for the Oman. It was a penalty miss from Saudi Arabia’s Taysser Al-Jassim that gave the Omanis hope.
Up stepped Mohammed Rabea to smash in the 11th penalty of the night to send the home fans into raptures.
