MUSCAT: The Oman national football team edged Lebanon 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly match on Wednesday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The win provided a crucial morale boost ahead of the decisive upcoming fixtures in the Fifa World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers against Jordan on June 5 in Muscat and Palestine on June 10.
The only goal of the match came early in the 4th minute as striker of Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Essam al Subhi, calmly converted a low pass inside the penalty area, firing past Lebanese goalkeeper Mustafa Matar. The goal was as a result of quick teamwork and clinical finishing which gave the Red Warriors an early edge that they held onto until the final whistle.
Under the leadership of head coach Rasheed Jaber, Oman team players displayed strong dominance in the first half, with noticeable harmony among the starting lineup. The well-structured midfield and cohesive backline helped the team maintain control of the tempo throughout the opening 45 minutes. Lebanon pushed hard in the second half in an attempt to equalise but Red Warriors solid defensive line stood firm. Despite sustained pressure, the visiting side was unable to breach the defense, thanks to well-timed tackles and excellent positioning across all the three lines. During the match, the coaching staff made various substations to stand on the player's technical capabilities and evaluate their final readiness.
Coach Rasheed Jaber began the match with the a starting lineup that featured from Fayez al Rushaidi as a goalie; a defensive line comprising from Thani al Rushaidi, Ali al Busaidy, Ahmed al Khamisi and Khalid al Buraiki. The midfielders were Abdulrahman al Mushaifri, Arshad al Alawi, Jameel al Yahmadi and Harib al Saadi while Hamed al Habsi and Essam al Subhi leading the front line.
The win served as a morale booster for the national team as they head into two pivotal World Cup qualifying matches against Jordan on June 5 in Muscat and it will be followed by a clash with Palestine on June 10 in Amman city, Jordan.
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