MUSCAT, SEPT 6
Al Nahda took an early grip on the Jindal League standings after defeating Al Shabab 3-2 in the second-round summit at Seeb Stadium on Saturday, while Ibri recorded the biggest win of the season so far and Saham claimed their first points with a narrow home victory over Bahla.
The result lifted Al Nahda to six points from two matches after a perfect start, while Al Shabab remained on three points following their first defeat of the campaign. The match lived up to its billing as the standout fixture of the round, delivering five goals, late drama and a strong statement from the Buraimi side.
Al Nahda made a flying start as Mohammed al Ghafri punished a defensive error in the second minute. The striker beat Ali Doumbia before taking advantage of goalkeeper Abdulmalik al Badri’s misjudged advance to place the ball into the net. Al Shabab tried to respond through the movement of Musab al Maamari, Yaseen al Sheyadi, Hatim al Roushdi and Dutch forward Pepijn Doesburg, but Fayez al Rushaidi and the Al Nahda defence held firm.
Al Ghafri struck again in the 13th minute, capitalising on another mistake to double the advantage. Al Shabab pushed hard after the break and reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute when Doesburg’s header crossed the line, with the goal confirmed after a VAR review. Two minutes later, however, substitute Amjad al Harthi restored Al Nahda’s two-goal lead from a fine Jameel al Yahmadi pass. Substitute Al Mutasim al Maqbali scored Al Shabab’s second in the 78th minute, but Al Nahda survived the late pressure to secure a valuable away win.
At Ibri Sports Complex, Ibri produced a dominant second-half display to beat Samayil 4-0 and move to four points. The first half ended goalless despite chances at both ends, with Cheikhna Semeiga missing an early opening for Ibri and Abdulrahman al Ghassani being denied by goalkeeper Omar al Matrooshi at the other end.
Ibri returned with greater purpose after the interval and opened the scoring in the 54th minute through Al Azhar al Qalahati. Omar Bala Mohammed doubled the lead in the 61st minute before Cheikhna Semeiga added the third with a header in the 76th minute. Alex Darkoz completed the scoring in the 85th minute with a well-taken finish, leaving Samayil on three points.
At Sohar Sports Complex, Saham recovered from their opening defeat to Samayil by beating Bahla 1-0. Salem Habib delivered the decisive moment in the 65th minute when his low effort deflected off a Bahla defender and found the net. Nigerian striker Tosin Omoyele made his first appearance for Saham and added movement to the front line, while goalkeeper Hassan al Buraiki played a key role in preserving the lead as Bahla pushed for an equaliser.
The victory handed national coach Musabbah bin Hashil al Saadi a winning start with Saham and gave the club an important lift before the league resumes with the remaining second-round fixtures on Sunday.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
