Muscat: Defending champions Al Nahda and Dhofar put one foot in the semifinals of His Majesty’s Cup football championship as they registered crucial triumphs over Seeb and Oman club respectively in the first leg of their quarterfinals on Thursday.
Al Buraimi representative team finished the first-leg match on a successful note and moved on the right track to defend their title as they captured a thrilling 2-1 win over runners-up Seeb at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Oman national team player Omar al Malki put Al Nahda ahead as he netted the opening goal in the 22nd minute while his team-mate Essam al Subhi doubled the lead as he scored the second goal in the 35th minute. The only goal for Seeb was struck by Mohammed Ramadhan in the 56th minute. The second leg match between Al Nahda and Seeb will take place at Al Buraimi Sports Complex on December 2.
DHOFAR BLANK OMAN CLUB
Salalah giants and ten times winners Dhofar recorded a 2-0 victory against Oman club at the former’s home at Al Saada Stadium in Salalah. Despite unimpressive performance in the Omantel League, Dhofar players showed top game as Thani al Rushedi and Abdullah al Musharafi netted the goals to raise Dhofar’s chances to seal slot in the semifinals, in the home game on Thursday. Despite the loss, the Muscat-based team still have the chances to comeback in the away match which will be on December 2 at Seeb Stadium.
Earlier on Thursday, Younis al Riyami revived Bahla chances to book a spot in the semifinals of the prestigious HM Cup as he struck the equaliser in the dying minutes against Ibri on Thursday. Ibri missed a golden chance to end the first-leg match on a victory status as they ended the match in a 2-2 draw to keep all the probabilities open for both teams in the deciding-leg match of the quarterfinals at Ibri Sports Complex on December 1.
Mohammed al Omairi broke the deadlock as he netted the first goal in the match to put Bahla in lead in the 31st minute before George De Junior scored the equaliser for Ibri in the 45th minute. Two minutes later, Faisal al Aghbari doubled the score for Ibri to make it 2-1 ahead of the first-half conclusion. The deciding half featured many actions specially in the dying minutes as Ibri’s defender Juma al Habsi conceded a penalty. Bahla's Younis al Riyami converted the spot kick to a goal to make it 2-2.
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