MUSCAT: Saham and Sohar booked their places in the quarterfinals of His Majesty’s Cup football competition following two hard fought Round of 16 encounters held on Friday at Seeb Stadium and the Al Rustaq Sports Complex, as the knockout stages continued to deliver intensity and excitement.
At Seeb Stadium, Saham claimed a valuable 1–0 victory over Muscat in a match marked by tactical discipline and missed opportunities, Saham dominated possession for long periods and consistently pressed Muscat’s defensive line, creating several clear chances that went unconverted, despite the missed opportunities, Saham remained composed and patient in their build up play.
The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Mohammed al Maamari capitalised on a defensive lapse by Muscat, the forward showed excellent awareness to seize on the loose ball before unleashing a powerful strike into a tight angle, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance, the goal proved decisive, as Saham tightened their defensive structure and limited Muscat’s attacking threat for the remainder of the first half.
Muscat emerged after the break with renewed attacking intent and enjoyed their best spell of the match during the opening stages of the second half, They pushed numbers forward and created a handful of promising situations, but lacked the finishing touch in the final third, as the match passed the hour mark, Saham gradually regained control, restoring balance to the contest and preventing Muscat from mounting sustained pressure, with no further goals added, Saham held on to secure a deserved qualification to the next round.
Meanwhile, at the Al Rustaq Sports Complex, Sohar advanced after overcoming hosts Al Rustaq in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw after extra time, the first half saw both sides exchange attacks in a closely contested affair, with midfield battles dominating the tempo and few clear chances emerging before the break.
Al Rustaq took the lead in the second half through Omar al Salti, who finished confidently after sustained pressure from the home side, Sohar responded positively and drew level from a corner kick, capitalising on a mistake attempt by Al Rustaq’s goalkeeper to clear the ball, which left the goal exposed.
With neither team able to find a winner in normal or extra time, the match was decided on penalties, where Sohar showed greater composure to seal their passage into the quarterfinals.
The results underline the growing competitiveness of His Majesty’s Cup, as the tournament continues to produce closely fought matches and dramatic moments in its knockout stages.
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