MUSCAT: In a riveting match held at Seeb Sports Stadium on Saturday, Oman Club edged out Bahla 1-0 during the second round of the Omantel League.
The game unfolded with intense first-half action, favouring Oman Club players in the midfield who seized numerous opportunities.
Conversely, Bahla's players adeptly countered Oman's offensive advances while progressively inching closer to Oman's goal. However, their efforts lacked the necessary finesse in front of the net.
The first half concluded with an overall moderate technical performance and a lack of genuine scoring chances.
The second half commenced with notable vigour from both teams, though they struggled to find the final touch for goal-scoring. It was in the 52nd minute that Oman Club's Hosni al Hinai surprised everyone, launching a high ball that eluded Bahla's goalkeeper and secured the sole goal of the match.
Following this pivotal goal, Bahla's coach orchestrated several strategic changes, fostering opportunities that their attackers were unfortunately unable to capitalise on. Later in the match, Oman Club's Omar al Hassani received a red card after his second yellow card, resulting in the game ending with Oman Club's victory, 1-0.
Oman Club clinched their first 3 points in the league, a significant rebound from their 1-4 defeat to Sohar in the initial round. Meanwhile, Bahla maintained a balance of 3 points, earned from their 1-0 victory over Al Nasr in the first round, although they maintained a superior goal difference compared to Oman.
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
A clash of defensive prowess marked the match between Al Rustaq and Sohar, which ended in a goalless draw during the second round of the Omantel League. The encounter took place at Al Rustaq Complex Stadium on Saturday.
The first half witnessed Al Rustaq's dominance, posing the greater threat in front of goal. Sohar Club's defenders remained vigilant, thwarting Al Rustaq's attempts. After the initial 20 minutes, Sohar Club adapted their strategy, gaining possession and advancing. However, their endeavours failed to generate substantial scoring opportunities, culminating in a goalless first half.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with both teams prioritising defensive solidity. Despite creating several chances, neither side managed to convert them into goals, leading to the match concluding in a deadlock. The game saw two yellow cards, one for Al Rustaq's Abbas al Hashami and another for Sohar's Mohamed Ayad.
Following the result, Al Rustaq's points tally rose to two, having previously drawn 1-1 against Sur in the initial round. Sohar, on the other hand, accumulated 4 points, following their 4-1 triumph over Oman Club in the previous round.
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