Muscat- In a dramatic semifinal showdown at the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, Oman pulled off an incredible 2-1 victory against Saudi Arabia, despite being reduced to 10 men early in the first half.
With temperatures at a chilly 18°C, the electrifying atmosphere was fueled by passionate supporters waving flags and chanting for their teams.
Coach Rashid Jaber faced a daunting task, making last-minute changes due to injuries and yellow card suspensions. Still, his confidence in his squad proved well-placed as Oman battled fiercely from start to finish.
The game started with Saudi Arabia in control, threading passes and creating early chances. Oman’s goalkeeper, Al Rushaidi, made a brilliant save from a stinging free-kick, keeping the scores level. Saudi’s dominance persisted through the opening minutes, with Oman struggling to find their rhythm.
Disaster struck for Oman in the 25th minute as Al Mandhar received a red card, leaving his team one man down. Despite the setback, Oman defended valiantly, ending the first half in a goalless stalemate.
The second half began with Oman adopting a disciplined approach, knowing they couldn’t afford mistakes. Saudi Arabia continued their assault, but a VAR decision ruled out an apparent goal by Abdullah Al Hamddan, giving Oman a lifeline.
In the 74th minute, Arshad Al Alawi ignited the Omani crowd with a sensational free-kick, giving Oman a 1-0 lead. Buoyed by the breakthrough, Ali Al Busaide doubled the advantage in the 85th minute, capping off a stunning team move.
Saudi Arabia responded with a brilliant strike from Kanno in the 87th minute, but it wasn’t enough to derail Oman’s spirited march to victory as the match ticked on for 14 minutes with Saudi Arabia going down to 10 men too.
As the final whistle blew, jubilant scenes erupted among Omani fans and players.
Oman now awaits their opponent in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this year’s Arabian Gulf Cup.
