Al Maqbali double lifts Seeb as Dhofar, Sur triumph

MUSCAT, SEPT 21
Abdulaziz al Maqbali scored twice as Seeb defeated Ibri 3-0 to provisionally top Group Two in the Sohar International Cup, while Dhofar overcame Fanja 2-0 and Sur rallied to beat Samayil 3-1 in the third round.
At Seeb Stadium, the hosts secured their second successive victory to move onto seven points, leaving Ibri without a point.
Al Maqbali opened the scoring in the 19th minute, converting an opportunity inside the penalty area during an otherwise evenly contested first half. Ibri tried to respond but lacked the finishing touch, while Seeb went into the interval protecting their narrow advantage.
The visitors made two changes at half-time, but Seeb struck again just two minutes after the restart. Jawad al Izzi advanced down the left and delivered a precise cross for Al Maqbali to head home his second.
Ahmed al Riyami completed the scoring in the 63rd minute, meeting a cross inside the penalty area and finding the net. Seeb remained organised throughout the closing stages, with Ibri unable to seriously threaten goalkeeper Mutasim al Wahaibi.
At Al Saada Sports Complex, Dhofar scored once in each half through Ahmed al Shanfari and Abu Kamara to secure victory over Fanja in Group One.
Both sides created openings before the breakthrough. Fanja’s Khalid al Sulaimi had an effort blocked early on and later tested Dhofar goalkeeper Mazin al Kasbi, while Kamara headed over at the other end.
Al Shanfari put Dhofar ahead in the 43rd minute, finishing a well-worked move to give the hosts the advantage at the interval.
Fanja sought a way back after the restart, but Kamara extended Dhofar’s lead in the 68th minute with a powerful header from a corner.
Al Kasbi subsequently denied substitute Omar al Hosni’s header before Al Nawras al Farsi fired over as Fanja pressed to reduce the deficit. Both teams finished with 10 men after Fanja’s Lavisa and Dhofar’s Omar Adil were sent off in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Abdullah al Musharafi struck twice as Sur overturned a half-time deficit against Samayil at Sur Sports Complex.
Mohammed al Muhaijri gave Samayil the lead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute after being fouled inside the area.
Sur emerged with greater purpose after the break, and Al Musharafi equalised in the 49th minute. Four minutes later, Mohammed al Mujaini put the hosts ahead as their improved attacking play began to tell.
Samayil struggled to turn their attempts at a response into clear opportunities, while Sur continued to threaten through quick attacks down the flanks.
Al Musharafi settled the contest in the third minute of stoppage time, adding his second and Sur’s third to complete the comeback.