Oman missed final touch to score, says Rasheed

MUSCAT, NOV 20

Oman’s head coach, Rasheed Jaber, acknowledged the team's shortcomings in front of goal after their 1-0 defeat to Iraq on Tuesday night at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The hard-fought match saw Iraq’s Youssef Wal Amyn score the decisive goal late in the first half lifting his team back into contention with 11 points in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26.

“As expected, it was a tough match,” coach Rasheed said at the post-match press conference.

“We worked very hard to find an equaliser, made several substitutions and created numerous chances but the players struggled with the final touch to convert opportunities into goals.”

Despite Oman’s determined efforts, the defeat left them on six points in the group standings. Iraq, on the other hand, closed the gap to three points behind group leaders South Korea, reigniting their bid for a top-two finish and automatic qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

“Oman’s players showed great effort and delivered a strong performance,” Jaber added. “We now need to focus on the future and prepare for the remaining matches. The Gulf Cup in Kuwait this December will serve as an important opportunity to regroup and strengthen ahead of the resumption of the qualifiers in March.”

Reflecting on Iraq’s tactics, Rasheed noted their reliance on long crosses, which proved effective once again. “Iraq is a strong team and they capitalised on their strategy to secure the three points. The absence of key players impacted us but those who were selected gave their best. We must now look ahead and stay determined.”

Rasheed Jaber1

BETTER CONTROL

On the opposite bench, Iraq coach Jesus Casas expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “This was an essential victory for us,” Casas said. “It was a tough match as expected but the team showed significant improvement and maintained better control of the game.”

The Spanish coach praised his squad’s adaptability highlighting his rotational tactics and the contributions of goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. “Each game demands a unique approach and all players must step up to ensure we achieve our objectives. Our goalie Ahmed Basil, despite joining the camp late, performed exceptionally well in both matches he played.”

With this victory, Iraq has bolstered their chances of claiming one of the top two spots in Group B. Oman, now with six points, must regroup during the four-month break before resuming their qualifiers.

The next round of matches will take place on March 20, 2025. Oman will face a challenging away fixture against group leaders South Korea in Seoul while Iraq will host Kuwait at Basra International Stadium.