Muscat: Oman national team goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi was Al Suwaiq's star as the three-time champions booked a spot in the last-eight of the 2022-23 His Majesty's Cup Football Championship late on Friday.
Al Suwaiq defeated 10--time champions Dhofar 4-3 on penalties after the regulation time ended at 2-2 draw in a round-of-16 knockout match. With the triumph, the Northern Batinah team, coached under former national team coach Muhanna Said, moved to the next stage of the coveted cup while Salalah giants crashed out from round-16 as one of the major surprises of the championship.
Essam al Subhi took the lead for Al Suwaiq as he found the goal in the 16th minute and the first half ended with Suwaiq leading 1-0. Dhofar got the equaliser through Awadh Mohammed al Shari in the 66th minute. As the match was approaching its end, Al Suwaiq’s AbdulRahman al Mushaifri managed to score the second goal in the 84th minute.
As the match was in the injury-time, Dhofar players pressed hard to score the equaliser again and they succeeded as Ali salim al Nahar scored in the 94th minute to force extra-time which failed to break the deadlock.
In the penalty shoot-out, both the teams went level till the sixth shot before Fayez al Rushaidi made a brilliant save of Dhofar’s Awadh al Shari’s kick. Then, Fayez scored the sixth penalty to deliver a crucial win for Suwaiq at 4-3.
AL RUSTAQ THROUGH
In the other last-16 match of the evening, Al Rustaq snatched a 1-0 win against Bahla to progress into the quarterfinals.
At Nizwa Sports Complex on Friday night, Faisal al Balushi netted the winner for Al Rustaq in the 69th minute from a penalty kick. The only goal in the match sealed a berth for the Southern Batinah team in the last-eight round. Al Rustaq will meet Oman Club in the next round of the HM Cup.
Four-time champions Al Oruba sealed a berth in the quarterfinals as they beat hosts Salalah 1-0 in the last-16 match at Al Saada Sports Complex on Friday. The only goal in the match was scored by Youssef Nasser in the 10th minute. The triumph meant Al Oruba will meet Al Nahda in the quarterfinals. The first leg match will be held in Al Buraimi while the second leg will be played in Sur.
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