Muscat: Ahli Sidab secured a valuable 2-1 win over Al Ittihad in a tightly contested match held at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat, as part of the final rounds of the U18 Hockey League.
Al Ittihad opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Abdullah Salem Khusaib after clear dominance in the early stages. Ahli Sidab tried to equalise but couldn’t find the back of the net in the first quarter. In the second quarter, both teams exchanged control and created chances, but neither managed to score and Al Ittihad maintained its lead.
Ahli Sidab returned in the third quarter with renewed energy after tactical adjustments by coach Ayman al Kathiri. The team took control of the match and captain Rashid al Alawi scored the equaliser in the 40th minute. Just two minutes later, Saad al Fazari added the second goal, putting Ahli Sidab ahead 2-1.
Despite Al Ittihad’s attempts to equalise in the final quarter, Ahli Sidab’s defence managed to maintain the lead, ending the match with a 2-1 win.
MASIRAH STAGE COMEBACK
In another thrilling encounter, Masirah pulled off a dramatic 4-1 comeback win over Seeb in a match full of momentum swings and excitement.
Seeb struck early through Al Yazan al Balushi in the second minute following a surprise attack. However, Masirah quickly regrouped and earned a penalty corner in the fifth minute, which Fadhl al Noufali converted to level the score. The intensity increased and Masirah continued to press, winning another penalty corner in the 14th minute. Abbas al Noufali stepped up and gave his team a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Seeb attempted to bounce back but made a defensive error during a fast counter-attack, conceding another penalty corner. This time, Osama al Noufali scored Masirah’s third goal in the 20th minute, extending their lead to 3-1 by half-time.
During the third quarter, Seeb's coach, Hani al Kulaibi, made tactical changes to revive his team and Seeb created several dangerous chances. However, Masirah’s defence and goalkeeper held firm, keeping the score at 3-1.
The final quarter saw Seeb intensify their efforts to reduce the deficit, but Masirah capitalised on a fast break, finished off by Qasim al Shaidi, who netted the fourth goal, sealing a deserved 4-1 victory for his team.
Masirah head coach Ahmed al Noufali stated that the match against Seeb came after a tough loss in their opening final round game against Al Ittihad. This prompted the technical staff to reorganise, correct mistakes and boost the players' morale to come back stronger.
He praised his players for entering the match against Seeb with high spirit and focus, executing the tactical and technical plans effectively to claim three crucial points against a strong and aggressive opponent.
Al Noufali added that the tournament is witnessing a high level of competition, emphasising that all four teams in this stage are aiming for one goal — the title — regardless of past or upcoming results. He noted there is no room for rest in this phase.
He also thanked the Oman Hockey Association for their efforts this season, particularly for the variety of competitions and outstanding organisation. He commended the revival of the U18 Championship after years of pause, which has helped foster a strong and promising competitive environment. He concluded by expressing hope for continued development and sustainability in the coming years.
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