Al Rustaq stun Dhofar, Al Nasr held by Oman Club

Muscat: Round 21 of the Jindal League got underway with two results of significance at both ends of the table, as Al Rustaq claimed a valuable 1-0 away win over Dhofar, while Oman Club and Al Nasr settled for a goalless draw.
Al Rustaq secured an important 1-0 victory over Dhofar at Al Saada Sports Complex on Thursday evening, collecting three precious points in their battle to stay alive in the league.
The match remained closely contested for much of the evening, with both sides looking to find a breakthrough in a balanced encounter. Dhofar, who came into the fixture sitting eighth in the standings, tried to make home advantage count, while Al Rustaq approached the game knowing that any positive result would be vital in their fight at the bottom of the table.
As the contest moved into its latter stages, it was Al Rustaq who found the decisive moment. Essa al Buraidy struck in the 79th minute to score the only goal of the match and hand his side a hard-earned win away from home.
The result gave Al Rustaq renewed belief in the survival race, lifting their tally to 11 points while they remained at the foot of the standings with five rounds still to play. Dhofar, meanwhile, stayed on 21 points in eighth place after suffering another setback.
CAUTIOUS DRAW
In the other Round 21 fixture, Oman Club and Al Nasr played out a 0-0 draw in a match that reflected the importance of the points on offer, particularly for Al Nasr, who entered the round among the front-runners in the standings.
The contest was marked by caution and tactical discipline, with both teams showing defensive organisation but lacking the final touch in front of goal. While each side attempted to push for a positive result, neither was able to turn possession or attacking moments into a decisive breakthrough.
Al Nasr came into the match holding second place on 45 points, which gave the fixture added importance in the race near the top, while Oman Club were looking to strengthen their position in the middle of the table and continue their steady run of results.
Despite the absence of goals, the draw reflected a relatively even contest on the pitch, with neither side able to impose enough attacking quality in the final third. In the end, both teams had to settle for a point from a match that remained scoreless from start to finish.
The result moved Al Nasr to 46 points in second place, while Oman Club advanced to 32 points in sixth.