Sohar, Saham share points in exciting draw

Muscat, Aug 25

The clash between Sohar and Saham ended in an exciting 2-2 draw at Sohar Sports Complex in the opening round of the Jetour Cup, with both teams settling for a single point at the start of their campaign. This encounter was part of Group Two, which also includes Al Rustaq, Al Khabourah, Al Nahda, Al Shabab and Ibri.

The match started with high intensity, as Sohar needed only one minute to break the deadlock when Amir al Kinani latched onto a precise cross inside the box and fired directly into the net, giving his side a quick lead that unsettled Saham’s plans. Saham responded swiftly through a series of well-organised attacks led by Zuhair al Hosni, who managed to level the score in the 16th minute with a powerful strike from inside the area after a neat build-up. But Sohar restored their lead just five minutes later, when Mohammed al Hamdani finished off a fast counterattack with a low strike past the goalkeeper, making it 2-1 at the 21st minute. Both sides continued to trade attacks until half-time, which ended with Sohar in front. The second half saw Saham press hard for an equaliser while Sohar relied on counterattacks to exploit the spaces left behind. The turning point came in the 56th minute, when Saham was awarded a penalty after a clear foul inside the box. Mohammed al Balushi calmly converted it to make it 2-2, sparking wild celebrations from Saham’s supporters. The match grew even more intense, with dangerous chances from both sides. Amir al Kinani almost gave Sohar the lead again with a thunderous shot, only to be denied by the goalkeeper, while Zuhair al Hasni went close for Saham with a fierce attempt that missed the post. Saham’s hopes were dented in the 85th minute when Bassam al Saadi received a red card, forcing them to play the closing stages with ten men. Despite the setback, Saham held firm defensively and denied Sohar from capitalising on their numerical advantage. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. Sohar also entered the match without their head coach, Mustafa Kiyouh, who parted ways with the team after their opening Elite League fixture against Al Rustaq, which Sohar had won 4-2. The team was managed on the day by the assistant coaching staff.