MUSCAT, JAN 9
A one-handed penalty save by goalkeeper Ibrahim al Mukhaini saved Oman from blushes as they edged past a fighting Yemen 3-2 in the Group A match of 25th Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, Iraq on Monday.
The win kept the Red Warriors in contention for a semifinal spot from the group.
At the Basra International Stadium, it offered a thrilling experience for the 60,121 fans who braved rain to attend the match.
Al Mukhaini spoiled Yemen’s chance for an equaliser in the final moments of the game when his reflex save in the right corner of the post denied Mohammed al Dahi from the spot kick.
Oman conceded the penalty after Ahmed al Kaabi fouled Yemen’s Ahmed al Sarori inside the box.
An own-goal by Iraqi goalkeeper Ali Abbas put Oman ahead in the second minute. Yemen pulled level in the 12th minute after a penalty goal by Abdulwasea Al Matari.
Yemen took the lead in the 30th minute through Omar al Dahi but Arshad al Alawi pulled Oman level seven minutes later.
Issam al Subhi netted the winner for Oman in the 57th minute.
Oman went ahead in the second minute itself when Yemen goalkeeper Ali Abbas gloved a corner into his own net.
Yemen, who started with a long ranger from Emad Al Godaimah in the first minute, tried in the same vein to put pressure on Oman defence.
They found success in the 12th minute after Abdulwasea Al Matari converted a penalty to pull level at 1-1.
Al Matari earned the penalty himself after a foul by Omani defender Juma al Habsi close to the goal.
Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim al Mukhani had no chance in the penalty as Al Matari fired to the bottom left corner for the equalising goal.
Buoyed by the goal, Yemen pushed ahead after some serious attacks from Oman.
Omar al Dahi broke through after a nice pass from Al Matari and sent a strong shot, which went past a diving Oman keeper Al Mukhaini in the 30th minute.
DRAMA APLENTY
There was drama aplenty in the rain-soaked match as Oman restored parity in the 37th minute.
Al Mundhir al Alawi won a free kick in front of the Yemen penalty box. Arshad al Alawi’s right-footed shot was initially blocked by Yemen keeper Abbas but it rolled past the goal line as he failed to grip the ball properly.
The Red Warriors missed a great chance to take the lead in the 44th minute.
Arshad al Alawi, who took the penalty kick, slipped and his shot ballooned over the post.
Yemeni defender Mudir al Radaei conceded the penalty after bringing Oman’s Jameel al Yahmadi down in the penalty area.
Mudir received a yellow card for the foul.
Salah al Yahyaei won a free kick in the added time after a foul from Mohammed al Tairi, who was booked by the referee.
Oman tried another attempt next as Al Mundhir’s shot from the centre of the box was put away by the Yemen defence.
In the second-half, Yemen replaced the goalkeeper Abbas with Mohammed Khairalah.
Oman sprang into action immediately by taking the lead after two minutes into play.
Arshad al Alawi’s strong header from a cross by Salah al Yahyaei hit the left post from close range. The ball bounced back to Issam al Subhi who unleashed a diving header forward as the ball entered the net for a third Oman goal.
In the 49th minute, Yemen’s Emad al Godaimah got a yellow card for a foul on Arshad.
In the 57th minute, Oman substituted an injured Mahmood Mabrook with Ahmed al Khamisi.
In the next minute, Al Mundhir’s firm shot from outside the box was saved by Yemen keeper Khairalah.
Yemen made a double change next.
Hamza al Rimi replaced Emad al Godaimah and Jarallah al Zaghari substituted Hamza Hanash.
Al Mundhir’s attempt with a header from the centre of the box went high and wide in the 73rd minute.
Oman head coach Branko Ivankovic made some changes to the attacking line-up with 15 minutes to go.
Zahir al Aghbari replaced Arshad al Alawi, while Musab al Maamari came in place of Salah al Yahyaei and Omer al Malki substituted Issam al Subhi.
In the 78th minute, Jameel al Yahmadi’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box went off the target to the left.
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