Muscat: Seeb and visiting Saham ended their match in a goalless draw while Al Shabab posted a 1-0 win over Al Nasr in the semifinal first-leg games of the His Majesty's Cup football championship late on Thursday.
At Seeb Sports Stadium, Saham approached the game with a well organised defensive strategy and managed to impose their rhythm on the match, which lacked dangerous opportunities on both sides for most of its duration. This result contradicted expectations, which anticipated a more intense and thrilling encounter.
The first half was evenly contested, with both teams exchanging control over the game. Seeb attempted to assert their dominance and created several scoring opportunities, but Sohar’s solid defence and the brilliance of goalkeeper Hassan al Buraiki kept the hosts at bay. The most notable chance came in the 12th minute when Omar al Fazari fired a shot, but it lacked power and accuracy, making it an easy save for Al Buraiki. On the other hand, Saham relied on quick counter-attacks but failed to pose a real threat to Seeb’s goal. The half ended with neither side managing to break the deadlock.
In the second half, Seeb maintained their attacking pressure, utilising various offensive approaches, but Sohar's disciplined defensive organization made it difficult for the home team to find the net. Seeb had a dangerous opportunity in the 58th minute when Ali al Busaidy unleashed a powerful shot that went just wide of the post. Meanwhile, Saham continued with their counter-attacking strategy and almost snatched the lead in the 65th minute when Abdullah al Marikhi delivered a precise cross to Marwan al Ghafri, whose shot narrowly missed the target.
With this draw, the decisive outcome is postponed to the highly anticipated second leg, scheduled for February 15 at Sohar Sports Complex, where both teams will battle for a spot in the final in a match that leaves no room for sharing points.
Al Shabab Secures Crucial Win
Al Shabab claimed a valuable 1-0 win over Al Nasr in their semifinal first leg clash at Al Saada Sports Complex, taking an important step towards the final of the His Majesty the Sultan’s Cup.
Al Nasr entered the match benefiting from home advantage and crowd support, dominating the first half. However, Al Shabab's well-organised defence successfully prevented them from finding the back of the net. The opening half saw few clear-cut chances, as both teams played cautiously, resulting in a goalless draw by half-time.
At the start of the second half, Al Shabab came out strong and nearly opened the scoring in the first minute through a powerful strike from Ahed al Hadaifi, but the crossbar denied him. Al Nasr quickly responded with a dangerous header from Marwan Taib in the 48th minute, but Al Shabab’s goalkeeper Abdulmalik al Badri made a brilliant save.
Both teams continued to exchange possession without creating real goal scoring opportunities until the 64th minute when Hatim al Rushdi fired a surprise shot that was expertly saved by Ibrahim al Rushdi. As time progressed, Al Nasr began retreating defensively, allowing Al Shabab to increase their offensive pressure. This pressure paid off in the 76th minute when Hatim al Rushdi delivered a precise cross that Brazilian forward Johnson Lima headed into the net, securing the only goal of the match.
Al Nasr pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing minutes, but Al Shabab maintained their composure and held onto their lead until the final whistle. With this victory, Al Shabab now hold a strong position ahead of the second leg, which will be played on their home ground on February 15, giving them an advantage in the race for a place in the final.
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