Muscat, Feb 21
The return-leg semifinal match between Al Nahdha and Al Rustaq on February 25 at Al Buraimi Sports Complex will decide the winner to the final clash of the 2022-23 His Majesty’s Cup football championship as the first-leg match ended in a goalless draw at Al Rustaq Sports Complex late on Monday.
Al Buraimi representatives will have better advantage in the return-leg game as the encounter will take place at their home. The scenario of the later semifinal was same to the earlier match between Seeb and Al Rustaq which ended with no goals.
The strong defending and the goalkeepers' performance from Al Nahda and Rustaq spoiled all the attempts inside the box area.
The hosts were the organised side in the first-half of the game and later they missed the active movements of Hatim al Roushdi and Mahmood al Shaqsi due to their injuries in the game.
Al Rustaq missed the services of star player Mohammed al Ghafri due to his injury in the last match at the top-tier league. Al Nahda depended on the speed of striker Al Mundher al Alawi, Omar al Malki and Yemeni player Abdulwasa al Matari, who was very close to register the opening goal in the first-half but his attempt went above the bar.
The best goalkeeper in the last edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, Ibrahim al Mukhaini, saved some scoring attempts to keep Al Nahda team’s net clean without any goal as Al Rustaq strikers pressed hard in the deciding half and they were seeking for the first goal. Al Rustaq’s Mazin al Saadi tried to send a strong ball from outside the box area but his attempt was saved by goalkeeper Al Mukhaini. In the dying minutes, the result remained the same with no change and later referee Qasim al Hatmi ended the game with a goalless draw.
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