Muscat, June 13
The Oman Olympic team kickstarted their Al Watani Earthlenik WAFF U23 championship with a resounding victory over the Lebanese team, by securing 1-0 at the first round of Group C at Al Madina Stadium in Iraq.
The first half witnessed an impressive display of technical prowess from the Oman team. They applied relentless pressure on their Lebanese counterparts, earning several set pieces. However, these opportunities went untapped due to ineffective execution.
In the 40th minute of the first half, Nasser al Rawahi was awarded a penalty kick. Taking charge, Olympic striker Salim al Abdulsalam skilfully netted the ball, granting the Oman team a crucial 1-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw the red warriors enter the field with a determination to solidify their dominance and seek a second goal, providing a sense of security and confidence to the players. Meanwhile, the Lebanese team showcased a different approach, employing a fast-paced, high-pressure style to disrupt the Omani players and find opportunities to level the score.
The final minutes of the second half witnessed a thrilling display of technical prowess from both teams, as they aimed to breach each other's defences. Despite their efforts, neither team managed to find the back of the net. As a result, the referee signalled he end of the match, declaring the victory of the Oman national Olympic team with a clear goal.
Salem al Abdalsalam, the striker of our Olympic national team, was honoured with the best player award in the match against the Lebanese team.
In other matches of the first round, the Palestinian team secured a clean goal victory over Syria in the group B, while the Iraqi team settled for a draw against their Jordanian counterparts with a 2-2 scoreline in the group A.
Looking ahead, the Oman team, under the guidance of the coach, Akram Habrish, is set to face the Yemen team in the second round on Wednesday evening. The team is determined to achieve a positive outcome in the match against Yemen, ensuring their qualification and direct passage to the semi-final round of the Al Watani Earthlenik WAFF U23 championship.
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