MUSCAT, FEB 20
The Oman Beach Soccer team’s hopes dented on progressing for first time ever to the knockout stage, after a shocking defeat 3-2 by Portugal in the dying minutes of the third and concluding round, during group D matches of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup (BSWC) 2024 on Tuesday.
The Portuguese Leo Martins scored the winner goal in the last few seconds of the match to deliver a crucial triumph for his team. With this victory, the European team secured the second ticket of the group alongside Brazil to quarterfinals, after reaching to their sixth point from three games while Oman’s credit remained in the three points in the third place.
Oman began their campaign in the Beach Soccer World Cup with a strong show despite the defeat against the five times champion Brazil 5-3. Then, Oman team heroes bounced back strongly in the following match to register a 5-2 win over Mexico.
At the Dubai Design District Stadium, Oman’s third match against Portugal started strongly. Both sides were very cautious in the opening quarter to avoid receiving any goal in the beginning of the game. The Portuguese players namely: R. PINHAL Rodrigo, A. LOURENÇO André pressed hard towards the goalie Younis al Owaisi who saved many attempts. The first quarter ended with goalless draw.
In the beginning of the second quarter, LÉO MARTINS shocked Oman team with a goal as he took his team in the lead. Four minutes later, Jordan Alexandre doubled the lead of the European opponent as he benefited from the mistakes in the behind side of the national beach soccer team.
Later, Coach Talib Hilal’s men worked hard to return back to the match as Abdullah al Souti’s ball hit the bar while Khalid al Oraimi missed a golden opportunity to reduce the scoring gap beside Abdullah al Souti’s scoring attempt which missed too. The second half finished with Portugal leading by 2-0.
In third and deciding quarter of the match, Oman’s head coach Talib Hilal instructed the players during the break to press hard in the rival’s side. The national team players implemented a different tactic and began the period strongly as Abdullah al Souti managed to score the opening goal of Oman in an early minutes of the period to made it 2-1. Abdullah al Souti was the man of the third set as he created many dangerous attempts towards Portuguese goalie.
Kahlid al Oraimi equalised in the last 30 seconds to alive Oman’s chances to vie for the second ticket to the quarters but LÉO MARTINS dashed Oman’s hopes after he snatched third goal in the last nine seconds of the game from a header to end the match at 3-2.
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