MUSCAT, DEC 28
Two thrilling encounters marked the Round of 16 stage of His Majesty’s Cup football competition on Saturday, as Al Nassr and Oman Club secured their places in the quarterfinals following hard fought matches at the Al Rustaq Sports Complex and Ibra Sports Complex.
At the Al Rustaq Sports Complex, Al Nassr claimed a dramatic 2–1 victory over Al Khabourah in a match characterised by intensity, tactical discipline and effective counter attacking football, despite Al Khabourah enjoying the better share of possession and creating several early opportunities, Al Nassr proved more clinical in front of goal.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute, when Hussain al Shuhari capitalised on a swift counter attack, exploiting the space left behind Al Khabourah’s defensive line, Al Shuhari unleashed a precise finish that beat the goalkeeper and gave Al Nassr an early lead, following the goal, both teams adopted a more cautious approach, with chances becoming scarce as the tempo dropped and the first half ended with Al Nassr leading 1–0.
The second half saw a more balanced contest, with both sides sharing possession and attempting to build attacks patiently, Al Khabourah increased their attacking pressure as the match entered its final stages and were rewarded in the 82nd minute, when Darwish al Matroushi found the net to level the score, finishing confidently from inside the penalty area.
However, Al Nassr responded almost immediately. In the 85th minute, Fahd Adel led another rapid counter attack and calmly converted his chance to restore Al Nassr’s advantage, the visitors then managed the closing minutes effectively, maintaining their defensive organisation to preserve the lead and secure qualification for the next round.
In the second match of the day at the Ibra Sports Complex, Oman Club and Al Wahda played out a tightly contested encounter that ended in a goalless draw after both regulation time and extra time, the match was marked by strong midfield battles and disciplined defensive displays, limiting clear cut scoring chances for both teams.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, where Oman Club showed greater composure and accuracy to claim victory and book their place in the quarterfinals.
The outcomes of Saturday’s fixtures further underlined the competitive nature of His Majesty’s Cup, as the knockout stages continue to deliver drama and closely fought encounters, reinforcing the tournament’s status as one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated football competitions in Oman.
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