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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Bausher, Seeb to clash for hockey glory

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By Sports Reporter — MUSCAT: Dec 18: Bausher and Seeb will lock horns for the top honours of the HM Cup hockey championship on Monday.


The match will begin at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex at 7 pm. In a thrilling first semifinal, underdogs Bausher stunned five-time champions Al Nasr 4-3. In the second semifinal, 10-time champions Seeb edged past defending champions Ahli Sidab 3-2 in penalty shoot-out after both teams ended regulation time at 2-2. Bausher coach Ahmed bin Nasser al Darmaiki said it a stunning win for the players.


“We have a young squad. The boys fought out their heart to come back into the game and then win the tie,” an elated Al Darmaiki said.


“We have nothing to lose and we will fight to lift the title,” the coach said about the final.


Seeb coach Osama Hussain said the match was a really close encounter.


“We managed to keep our cool to equalise after the late goal by Ahli Sidab. Same we did in the penalties after conceding the lead,” the Egyptian coach said.


“We want to make up for last year’s title miss this year,” the Seeb coach said.


Seeb had lost last year’s final to Ahli Sidab.


In the first semifinal, heavy weights Al Nasr, sole representative from Salalah this year in the last four, raced to a 2-0 lead through Pakistan recruit Mohammed Aleem Bilal (15th minute penalty corner) and a field goal by Rashid al Hosni in the 23rd minute.


The young Bausher side came back to the match with Pakistani international and drag-flicker Muhammad Tousiq striking from a penalty corner in the 36th minute. Ali Ahmed al Hosni made it 2-2 in 41st minute though a field goal.


Mohmamad Aleem put Al Nasr in lead again in the 44th minute with score 3-2.


The equaliser came from Bausher’s Pakistan star Tousiq through a field goal.


Ammad Aiyad al Hosni struck the winner for Bausher in the 58th minute from a penalty corner.


The second semifinal was a keenly fought encounter with Seeb and Ahli Sidab excelling in defence and offence.


After a barren first 30 minutes, Ahli Sidab’s Indian international Rupinder Pal Singh netted the first goal.


Hard-pressing Seeb players found their reward through Oman national team player Qasim Moosa al Shibli in the 44th minute to make it 1-1.


Only five minutes left for the final whistle, Rupinder struck his and team’s second goal to earn the lead for Ahli Sidab. However Seeb did not lose heart and came back to stun the defending champions with an equaliser in the dying minutes of the match. Under-21 Oman player Mohammed Lawati was the scorer.


In the penalty shoot-out, Ahli Sidab started well by taking a 2-1 lead, but Seeb prevailed in the end with a 3-2 score.


Pakistan’s Tasawar Abbas converted two penalty strokes and Muhammad Rizwan scored for Seeb, while for Ahli Sidab, Rupinder and Mahesh hit the target.


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