Muscat: Striker Khalid al Hajri hit a brace as Oman cruised past Bangladesh 3-0 in their final Group E match of the Asian Qualifiers in Doha on Tuesday night to move into the final round of the World Cup 2022 Qualifiers.
Mohammed al Ghafri netted in the 23rd minute while Khalid al Hajri found the target twice in the 60th and 81st minutes.
Oman, who had already secured their berth in the final round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as one of the best five runners-up, finished with 18 points while Bangladesh ended their campaign without a win to finish at bottom with 2 points.
Oman, who beat Afghanistan 2-1 on Friday, took the lead after some swift attacks from the start of the match.
Al Hajri was quick in handing a through ball from Omar al Fazari to an advancing Al Ghafri, who hit the target from close range.
Oman led 1-0 at the half-time.
The Red Warriors increased their lead in the 60th minute as Khalid al Hajri -- the star of Oman in the Qatari capital city – made no mistake after receiving a good ball after a raid by Omar al Fazari at the Bangladesh penalty box.
Al Hajri netted his second goal in the 81st minute after combining well with substitutes Abdulaziz al Muqbali and Zahir al Aghbari as Oman went 3-0 up.
INDIA FINISH THIRD
Earlier, in another Group E match, India sealed third place in the group with a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan.
India head coach Igor Stimac gave Ashique Kuruniyan the nod to start after the winger’s impressive display against Bangladesh, while Bipin Singh and Udanta Singh were on the bench.
The result means India confirmed their place in the final round of the Asian Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 with Afghanistan also going through.
Manvir Singh put India in the lead in the 75th minute after a combination move with Ashique.
Afghanistan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi could only connect the ball to send it into his own net after Manvir nicely connected a looping cross from Ashique.
Afghanistan salvaged the equaliser in the 82nd minute when midfielder Noor Husin did well to lose his marker down the left flank before finding teenager Hossein Zamani, who curled his effort into the far post to beat Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
With the result, India ended their campaign with 7 points, while Afghanistan finished on 6 points and fourth in the group.
(With inputs from AFC)
PICS: AFC
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
