Muscat: Hosts Iraq edged Oman 3-2 in the extra-time to clinch the crown of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup at the Basra International Stadium in Iraq on Thursday night.
Manaf Younis struck the winner in a thrilling final for Iraq after Oman came back twice in the match to make it 2-2.
Younis’ header from the centre of the box landed in the bottom right corner of the Omani net after a free kick by Amjad Attwan.
Omer al Malki headed in Oman’s second equalizer in the 119th minute after a great cross by Jameel al Yahmadi.
Iraq went 2-1 earlier when Amjad Attwan converted a penalty with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner of Omani net in the 116th minute.
In the full-time the match ended 1-1 with Oman striking the equaliser just before the final whistle.
Ibrahim Bayesh unleashed a perfect angular shot from outside the box to put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute. Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim al Mukhaini dived to his right but could only manage a touch as the ball went into the bottom left corner of the net.
Oman failed to find an equaliser in the 82nd minute. Jameel al Yahmadi’s right- footed penalty kick was saved by Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in the bottom left corner.
Salaah al Yahyaei made inroads into the Iraqi penalty box and was brought down by Dhurgham Ismail for a penalty.
Oman finally struck the equaliser virtually in the last moment of the game.
Salaah al Yahyaei made no mistake from the spot kick with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner of the Iraqi net past a diving Jalal Hassan.
The penalty was confirmed after the VAR decision when Zahir al Aghbari was brought down in the penalty area.
Earlier, the match started with Oman’s Ahmed al Khamisi’s right-footed shot from more than 35 yards going high and wide to the right.
Next minute, Fahmi Durbin gave a through ball but Al Mandhar Al Alawai was offside.
Ali Faez’s free kick from outside the box went safely to the Oman goalkeeper’s hands in the 11th minute.
In the 18th minute, Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan sprang into action when his diving effort kept Salaah al Yahyaei’s brilliant shot from the left side of the box away.
Oman’s Harib al Saadi got a yellow card when he stopped Iraq’s Sherko Karim on advancing to the Omani half in the 26th minute.
In the 40th minute, Oman defence blocked a Dhurgham Ismail left-footer from outside the box.
Aymen Hussain made an attempt in the 43rd minute with a right-footer from outside the box.
In the 45th minute, Harib al Saadi hit a shot from outside the box but was saved in the bottom left corner by the Iraqi keeper after an assist by Salah al Yahyaei.
Oman opened the second-half with a good attempt. Salaah al Yahyaei took control of a pass from Ahmed al Kaabi and hit a shot from outside the box. The Iraqi keeper was alert to save the shot in the bottom left corner in the 48th minute.
In the 53rd minute, Zahir al Aghbari tried a long ranger for Oman but missed it to the left after an assist by Jameel al Yahmadi.
Al Mundhir was caught offside the next minute after going for a through pass from Ahmed al Kaabi.
Iraqi forward Aymen Hussein was booked in the 55th minute for a foul on Harib al Saadi.
Iraq made an effort in the 59th minute but Hussein Ali’s shot from outside the box was high and wide to the right.
In 61st minute, Al Mundhir al Alawi’s shot from the left side of the box was blocked after a pass by Ahmed al Kaabi.
IRAQ COME CLOSE
In the 65th minute, Iraq came close to a second goal.
Mustafa Nadhim’s header from the centre of the box after a corner from Hussein Ali missed the target closely after going past the Oman keeper.
Oman head coach Branko Ivankovic brought in Omer al Malki and Arshad al Alawi in place of Al Mundhir and Ahmed al Khamisi in the 78th minute.
Iraq coach Jesus Casas made a double change in the 86th minute after Oman missed the first penalty. Hasan Abdulkareem replaced Aymen Hussein and Aso Rostam came in for Dhurgham Ismail.
Iraq’s Hasan Abdulkareem was booked in injury time for a foul on Arshad al Alawi.
In the first-half of the extra-time, Iraq missed a chance in the 97th minute. Manaf Younis’ header from the centre of the box came close to the target but missed to the left after a free kick by Hasan Abdulkareem.
After two minutes, Abdulkareem’s left-footer from the right side of the box was too high following a corner.
Oman replaced Zahir al Aghbari with Mataz Saleh due to an injury in the 104th minute.
Hussein Jabbar replaced Alai Ghasem for Iraq in the next minute.
Iraq’s Munaf Younus was booked for a rough tackle on Mataz Saleh in the 106th minute.
Iraq’s Mohammed Ali Abbood got a yellow card for a handball.
Oman replaced Salaah al Yahyaei with Musab al Maamari in the 109th minute.
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