Eleven-time champions Seeb pummelled Muscat 8-1 as it rained goals in the first match of the His Majesty’s Cup hockey first-leg semifinals in Muscat on Wednesday night.
In the later match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Ahli Sidab held defending champions Al Nasr to a 2-2 draw.
Seeb, on way to their 12th title, started the semifinal against Muscat on a steady note. They took the lead when Indian player Machaiah Palangiyanda struck from a penalty corner in the 16th minute.
Former Pakistan international Mohammed Dilber increased the lead through a field goal in the 20th minute.
Oman national team player Qasim Moosa made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute with a brilliant field goal. Dilber struck again the 36th minute with a good strike as Seeb raced to a commanding lead.
After conceding four goals, Muscat scored their first goal when Indian recruit Mukul Kataria netted from a penalty corner in the 44th minute. That remained the only goal by them as Seeb punched ahead with a flurry of goals in the final quarter.
The fast attacks by Seeb players put Muscat defence in tatters as Omani players Owais Ahmed (47th, 55th) and Ibrahim Nasr (48th, 53rd minutes) scored a brace each. The field goals completed the scoreline of 8-1 win in the first-leg of semifinal for Seeb, coached by Egyptian Osama Hasnain.
Seeb coaching staff Khalid al Raisi said the players were in great touch in the one-sided match.
“We want to keep the momentum going from the preliminary rounds. I think we have a great chance of making the final. Our players will have the same approach in the second leg semifinal too,” Khalid al Raisi told Oman Observer.
The second-leg will be held on Friday.
STRONG COMEBACK
In the second semifinal, Al Nasr changed gear in the second quarter after a quiet first quarter. Indian recruit Barwinder Singh sounded the board with a field goal in the 21st minute as the Salalah club took 1-0 lead.
Omani player Shihab Naha made it 2-0 with a nice strike in the 25th minute.
The match was also a tussle between the tactics of seasoned coaches. Al Nasr coach Mohammed al Batrani and Ahli Sidab coach KK Poonacha employed good tactics in both halves of the match.
Poonacha’s change of tactics immediately earned the results in the second half.
Ahli Sidab reduced the deficit when Rashad al Fazari’s strong hit put the ball inside the Al Nasr net, just one minute after the half-time break.
Al Fazari, who became the first Omani player to play in Europe, has returned to play for Ahli Sidab after one-month stint with Deeside Ramblers Hockey Club in the United Kingdom.
The youngster will return to UK in January, according to club officials.
Al Nasr, who tried to defend their 2-1 lead, suffered setback when Assad al Qasmi’s brilliant field goal made the scores level.
Both the teams strengthened the defences after the 2-2 score and some breakthrough moves by Ahli Sidab failed to find the target.
Former Oman national coach Poonacha said his team came back brilliantly to the game after conceding two goals.
“We were in control of the second half. We would have netted the winner too but for some poor finishes. Our boys deserve credit for fighting back after going 2-0 down.”
“We are now in an upbeat mood for the second leg and I hope our players just start from where they finished,” the Indian coach said.
Meanwhile, Al Nasr’s Batrani, who acknowledged the game as a tussle of coaching tactics, said they had good first half.
“We had a good first half. But we could not press ahead in the second half as we didn’t want to risk any player injuries ahead of the second leg.”
“Some minor injuries to players also kept our momentum down after the break,” Batrani said.
However, the players will be fresh and raring to go in the second leg on Friday, he added.
Ahli Sidab Chairman Yasser al Shalwani said the team has showed their potential in the match.
“Our players showed their fighting spirit after being 2-0 down,” he said.
Ahli Sidab President Dr Marwan al Juma said their team will have an advantage in the second leg.
“Our team has a 2-2 draw in the first-leg considered to be home-leg for Al Nasr. So we have an upper hand in the second leg on Friday.”
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