MUSCAT, MAY 2
Al Nahda continued their march towards the Omantel League title with a resounding 3-0 victory over Al Bashayer in the 23rd round. The game was played at Nizwa Complex on Monday.
Al Nahda scored their first goal of the match in the 35th minute by Mohammad Khasib. In the second half, Abdulaziz al Shamousi scored the second goal in the 56th minute. Ali al Rashidi increased Al Nahda’s lead with the third goal in the last minute.
With this win, Al Nahda now have 52 points, consolidating their lead in the league and keeping the second-placed Al Suwaiq at bay with a seven-point difference.
Al Suwaiq will meet Oman Club in the same round on Wednesday. With this loss, Al Bashayer remained in last place with 12 points facing a high possibility of relegation to the First Division League.
There are only three rounds left in the Omantel League and Al Nahda need just five points to secure the league title and achieve the double this season, following their victory in the HM’s Cup.
DRAMATIC TIE
Al Seeb and Al Ittihad fought hard but ultimately ended in a draw 1-1 during the 23rd round of the OL match at the Al Seeb Sports Stadium.
The game was a thrilling one, with the tie continuing until the end of regular time. In the 90+6 minute, Mohamed Ramadan of Al Seeb scored the goal that would have given his team the lead of third place. However, Al Ittihad managed to equalise with a goal scored by Mohammad Ayyad three minutes later in virtually the last action of the match.
Despite playing with only 10 players after Khaled Yazid was expelled in the 22nd minute, Al Ittihad did not lose the match, ending it with a draw.
The result was unfavourable for Al Seeb, as their struggle with Al Rustaq for third place in the league may be threatened if Al Rustaq beat Sur on Tuesday. While Al Ittihad, currently in 12th place with 17 points, struggle to avoid relegation.
SOHAR WIN
Sohar emerged victorious over Al Musannah 1-0 in another match at Al Rustaq Stadium. Junior Anthony scored the only goal of the match in the 87th minute, securing Sohar’s close win. Sohar now have 33 points, temporarily equalling Bahla, who are playing the 23rd round match with Al Orouba.
Additionally, Sohar’s win puts pressure on Oman Club, who are currently in fifth place with only two points ahead of Sohar. The result also marks a significant setback for Al Musannah, who are now in a precarious position in ninth place with only 27 points, and their chances of avoiding relegation could be dependent on the outcome of the next round.
The top-flight Oman football league has only three rounds remaining, and the competition for the top spots is still fierce. Sohar’s victory has brought them in contention for a fifth spot, while Al Nahda’s win has given them a strong advantage in the race for the title. Meanwhile, Al Seeb’s tie with Al Ittihad has made their bid for third place more challenging. The other matches of the round is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
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