MUSCAT: Oman’s Seeb club registered a thrilling 3-2 win against Bashundhara from Bangladesh in their opening match at 2025/26 AFC Challenge League Group B tie on Saturday night at Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium. The win meant Seeb are leading the group with the hosts Kuwait who managed to defeat Lebanon’s Al Ansar FC wit the same result.
The AFC Cup 2022 champions, under the guidance of Serbian coach Nicola, resumed back to the training sessions in Kuwait on Sunday after the opening match. Last season’s quarterfinalists, will meet in their second match the hosts Kuwait team on Tuesday while the concluding match is scheduled against Lebanon’s Al Ansar, who ended a four-year drought in claiming a record 15th Lebanese league title in 2024/25, on Friday.
Seeb began the match strongly with an early goal scored by Nasser al Rawahi in the 7th minute while Raphael Augusto equlaised for the opponent before the first half end in the 41st minute. Raqeeb Hussain put his team Bashundhara ahead for the first time in the match in the 53rd minute while Zaher al Ghbari returned Seeb to the origin point as he scored the second goal in the 60th minute to make it 2-2. In the last 15 minutes of the match, Oman former national team player Abdulaziz al Maqbali netted the winner for Seeb in the 76th minute to deliver crucial three points for his team.
The match started at a high tempo as Bashundhara threatening early through Dorielton, whose close-range effort in the second minute was brilliantly saved by Seeb’s goalkeeper Ahmed al Rawahi. But it was Seeb who struck first through Nasser al Rawahi who managed to score in the 7th minute, chesting down a precise long pass from Arshad al Alawi before coolly slotting the ball past Mehdi Srabon.
Bashundhara responded with determination and were rewarded four minutes before halftime when Raphael Augusto equalised in the 41st minute, controlling a rebound from Saad Uddin’s shot and finishing neatly to make it 1-1. The Bangladeshi side carried their momentum into the second half, taking the lead in the 53rd minute. A clever pass from Dorielton found Rakib Hossain, who cut inside from the right flank and unleashed a dipping strike that found the back of the net, putting Bashundhara 2-1 ahead. Just seven minutes later, Seeb restored parity through Zahir al Ghbari, who met Hassan al Ajmi’s cross at the far post and fired home to level the score at 2-2. The decisive moment came in the 76th minute when another dangerous delivery from Al Ajmi caused havoc in the box. Ali al Busaidi smartly laid the ball off to veteran striker Abdulaziz al Maqbali, who volleyed home the winner from close range to seal all three points for the Omani side. Bashundhara continued to press late in the game, but Seeb’s defense, marshalled by Mohammed al Musallami and Yasser al Balushi, held firm to secure the victory by 3-2.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
