Jetour Cup semis promise high-stakes battle for final spots

Muscat: The Jetour Cup returns to the spotlight on Tuesday as four teams move to within one step of the final when the semifinals are played across two venues.

In the first tie, Al Nahda will meet Sur at Al Buraimi Sports Complex at 5:50 pm, while Seeb take on Sohar at Al Seeb Stadium at 8:10 pm. The winners will progress to the final.

Al Nahda booked their place in the last four after finishing top of Group Two with a consistent run that underlined their balance and discipline throughout the preliminary stage. Their campaign included a 1-1 draw with Saham, a 3-0 win over Ibri, a 2-0 victory against Al Shabab, a 2-2 draw with Al Khabourah, a goalless draw against Al Rustaq and an emphatic 5-2 victory over Sohar in the final round. That run ensured Al Nahda progressed unbeaten.

Sur, meanwhile, reached the semifinals after finishing runners-up in Group One with a strong recovery following an opening defeat. After losing 2-0 to Bahla, Sur responded impressively by beating Dhofar 1-0, then registering a valuable 2-1 victory over Seeb, followed by another 2-1 win over Oman Club, before sealing qualification with a 2-0 result against Samayil.

The two teams also carry recent league familiarity into the tie. Al Nahda have drawn their last two Jindal League matches, including a 1-1 result against Sur, while Sur have also shared the points in their last two, including a goalless draw in their previous outing. That recent encounter underlines how little may separate the two sides heading into this knockout clash.

Seeb’s player shields the ball under close pressure from Sohar during their recent Jindal League clash, which ended in a 1-0 win for Seeb.

SEEB CARRY MOMENTUM

The second semifinal places Seeb, one of the strongest sides this season, against a Sohar team seeking to rediscover its sharpness at the right time.

Seeb advanced to the semifinals after topping Group One with a strong return of results. Their run included a 3-1 victory over Samayil, a 2-1 win against Oman Club, a 1-1 draw with Bahla, a narrow 2-1 defeat to Sur, and then successive wins over Al Nasr (2-0) and Dhofar (2-1).

Sohar reached the semifinals by finishing runners-up in Group Two. Their campaign began with a 2-2 draw against Saham, followed by a 2-1 win over Al Khabourah, a 1-0 victory against Al Rustaq, and a 1-1 draw with Ibri. Sohar then secured a crucial 1-0 win over Al Shabab before suffering a 5-2 defeat to Al Nahda.

Recent league form, however, suggests Al Seeb enter the match with the stronger momentum. They have continued to build confidence through important victories, while Sohar have struggled for rhythm in their last two league matches. That does not rule them out, but it does place extra pressure on them to produce a more clinical display against one of the competition’s most consistent teams.