MUSCAT: Round 20 of the Jindal League concluded with two important results, as Sur claimed a valuable 1-0 win over Dhofar, while Oman Club defeated Sohar 2-1 in a closely contested encounter at Seeb Stadium.
At Sur Sports Complex, Sur secured all three points thanks to a 55th-minute goal by Axel May. The home side looked the more threatening team for much of the match and nearly went ahead in the 16th minute when Axel May’s header struck the crossbar. Dhofar’s best first-half chance came in the 21st minute, but Sur goalkeeper Bilal al Balushi produced a fine save to deny Hamoud al Saadi. Sur continued to press and eventually found the breakthrough early in the second half when Axel May finished from a through ball by Loko. Dhofar tried to respond in the closing stages, but Sur remained compact and held on for a valuable victory. The result lifted Sur to 19 points in 10th place, while Dhofar remained eighth on 21 points.
Oman Club respond with a win over Sohar
At Seeb Stadium, Oman Club beat Sohar 2-1 to gain revenge for their defeat by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture.
The hosts enjoyed a slight edge from the opening stages and showed greater attacking intent, although the first half offered only limited clear chances. Oman Club eventually broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when Waleed al Musalmi finished powerfully after a precise pass from Yazid al Rawahi.
Sohar looked for a response after the break, with Abdullah al Balushi making an impact following his introduction and posing a real threat to Oman Club goalkeeper Faris al Ghaithi. One of his best chances came in the 56th minute, but the keeper reacted well to deny him.
Oman Club also had opportunities to extend their lead, and the contest became more dramatic in the closing stages after Omar al Hasani was sent off, forcing the home side to play the final part of the match with 10 men. Sohar tried to take advantage of the numerical superiority and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Oman Club remained resilient at the back.
The home side then struck a crucial second goal in the 89th minute when substitute Al Harith al Mukhaini capitalised on a defensive mistake and finished from a one-on-one situation. Sohar responded quickly, reducing the deficit in the 91st minute through Abdullah al Balushi, setting up a tense finish.
The visitors pressed hard in stoppage time in search of an equaliser, but Oman Club defended well under pressure and held on for the win.
The victory moved Oman Club to 31 points in seventh place, extending their positive run to a third successive round, while Sohar stayed on 32 points and slipped temporarily to fifth.
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