MUSCAT, OCT 8
Oman national football team ended their opening match against the hosts Qatar on a goalless draw in their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs Group A clash on Wednesday night at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The draw gave one point for both teams.
Oman will face United Arab Emirates on Saturday while Qatar will take on UAE three days later. All the three teams will vie for the automatic qualification to the Fifa World Cup 2026 which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Qatar began the opening half depending on the Akram Afif who made a lot of movements towards the goalie Ibrahim al Mukhaini.
The first attempt of the hosts Qatar was through Afif’s right-footed from distance in the sixth minute but was blocked and followed by Boualem Khoukhi’s long range strike that was deflected for a corner after. Oman’s feedback was through
Essam al Subhi who came close to break the deadlock when his efforts from the left side of the box forced by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abu Nada into a fine save.
In the 29th minute, coach Carlos Qurioz made the first substitution after suffering an injury of Jameel al Yahmadi and replaced by Nasser al Rawahi. Qatar midfielder Mohammed al Mannai received a yellow card in the 22nd minute for a heavy interpret on Jameel al Yahmadi. Qatar players including Assim Madibo and Ahmed al Ganehi tried to send some strong shots from range but missed the target.
CLOSE CHANCES
In the closing minutes of the first half, Oman nearly found the breakthrough from a corner as Abdullah Fawaz created a cross and picked out by Nasser al Rawahi whose header from the center of the box just missed the top right corner.
Four minutes of added time was announced by the Japanese referee and despite Qatar winning a late free kick through Edmilson Junior but Oman’s defense managed to break the attempt as the first half ended in a goalless draw.
Akram Afif was very close to score the first goal for the hosts as he entered to the box in the 49th minute as he was faced the goalie but his ball went away from the net. Two minutes later,
Edmilson Junior sent a shot from long distance but saved by Ibrahim al Mukhaini. Abdullah Fawaz tried to take the advantage of the Qatar’s goalie who was away from his net but Fawaz’s shot went outside the box in the 68th minute. Both sides made several substitutions in the last 15 minutes as Oman introduced Salah al Yahyaei and Mohsin al Ghassani to freshen up the attack while Qatar brought in Mohammed Muntari and Tarik Salman to add energy up front.
Muntari came close to scoring twice as he first missed narrowly from close range in the 80th minute and then seeing his low strike saved by Ibrahim al Mukhaini deep into stoppage time.
The hosts, Qatar, pressed hard in the concluding minutes as they managed to focus in the attacking side but the pressure did not result any goal as Oman defending line broke all the attempts. Oman’s defender Thani al Rushaidi won the best man award in the match.
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