Al Nasr hold leaders Seeb as title race tightens in JL

Muscat, March 13
Al Nasr halted Seeb’s momentum and denied them the chance to widen the gap at the top of the Jindal Football League after holding the leaders to a goalless draw at Seeb Sports Stadium in Round 17 of the 2025-26 season. With the hosts eager to strengthen their grip on first place and the visitors determined to come away with a positive result, the match remained evenly balanced and open until the final whistle.
Al Nasr started strongly and imposed themselves in the opening stages. They came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute when Awadh al Shihri unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but Seeb goalkeeper Ahmed al Rawahi produced an excellent save before the ball struck the right post and went out for a corner.
At the other end, the hosts tried to create several openings, but they rarely troubled goalkeeper Ibrahim al Rajhi, who stood firm and was well protected by an alert defensive line. The first half therefore ended goalless after a performance marked by intensity and discipline from both sides.
The tempo picked up slightly after the restart, with both teams showing greater attacking intent. Al Nasr again looked the more likely to score in the 51st minute when Abdullah al Musharafi fired a powerful effort from outside the box, but Ahmed al Rawahi reacted confidently to make the save.
As the match wore on, Seeb’s Serbian coach Nikola Durovic sought to inject more attacking energy by making several substitutions and introducing young players up front in search of a breakthrough. However, the finishing touch remained missing despite a number of chances from inside and outside the area.
On the other side, Al Nasr coach Daniel Jimenez dealt pragmatically with the flow of the contest, also introducing several young players to maintain balance while looking to snatch a winning goal. The match stayed open until the closing minutes amidst strong competition and rising tension on the pitch.
The closing stages saw a degree of nervousness, prompting international referee Qasim bin Matar al Hatmi to issue several yellow cards before blowing for full time to confirm a goalless draw and a share of the points.
With the result, Seeb moved on to 42 points to remain top of the league, just one point ahead of second-placed Al Shabab on 41, while Al Nasr raised their tally to 36 points in third place.
AL NAHDA, AL KHABOURAH SHARE SPOILS
In another match from the same round, Al Nahda and Al Khabourah played out a 1-1 draw at Al Buraimi Sports Complex.
Al Nahda took the lead through Ahmed al Kaabi before Al Khabourah equalised via Said Obaid, allowing both sides to take a point. The result lifted Al Nahda to 29 points in fifth place, while Al Khabourah moved to 15 points in 10th.