Saudi Arabia eliminates the defending champion and qualifies for the semi-final

The Saudi team overcame Oman 3-1 in the match between the two at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in the third and final round of the Gulf Cup Group 24, to make the Saudi team qualify to the semi-final to face Qatar, and the Omani team bid goodbye from the tournament.

The start was quick by the Saudi team, which threatened the Omani goal after only two minutes by Salman Al-Faraj’s brilliant shot. The goalkeeper Fayez Al-Rashidi sparkled by keeping it off the goal and changing it into a corner kick. The Saudi team tried to put pressure on the Omani team by passing the ball and diversifying the play from the middle and sides, while Omani lines were well organized and positioned in front of the goal until the 25th minute when Firas Al Braikan penetrated into the penalty area uncensored and hit a powerful left-footed shot that hit the bar and scored the first goal amid protest from the players of the Omani team because a hand touch occurred from the Saudi player before scoring the goal.

There was no strong reaction from the players of the Omani team after the goal as they did not pose a threat to the Saudi team and the players made the wrong passes. In the 42nd minute, and from another defensive mistake in positioning and proper coverage, the Saudi team added the second goal after a pass from Salman Al-Faraj to Hattan Bahabri who hit a powerful ball into the net.

The Omani team then tried to reduce the difference and got a foul on the outskirts of the penalty area and shot by Mohsin Johar directly into the goal but goalkeeper Fawaz Al-Qarni brilliantly handed it off to return to Mohsen Johar who fired it strongly. The goalkeeper shone in saving it again and it became a corner kick to end the first half of the Saudi team with two straight goals.

The excitement continued during the second half. The first attempt came from Salem Al-Dosari’s shot saved by Fayez Al-Rashidi to a corner kick. Ali Al-Busaidi played a beautiful corner kick in front of the Saudi goal which did not find a follow-up. At the 54th minute, Al-Mundhir pushed into the penalty area and shot a ball into the net scoring the first goal.

Omani Red players did not celebrate long for this goal. Hattan Bahabri at the 57th minute scored the third Saudi goal with a powerful shot. The Omani team then tried to reduce the difference by sending long balls into the penalty area, almost one of them by Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali who was about to shake the Saudi net, but goalkeeper Fayez Al-Qarni prevented this. Mohsen Johar tried a powerful shot from outside the penalty area but it went out. Saudi goalkeeper continued to shine this time at the 90th minute when he blocked the header of Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali, ending the match with a 3-1 win for Saudi Arabia.