MUSCAT: Seeb Club achieved a well-deserved victory over the Palestinian team Hilal Al Quds, winning 3-0 in a match held on Friday at Seeb Sports Stadium as part of the third and final round of Group C in the AFC Challenge League. This triumph secured Seeb’s place in the quarterfinals with an impeccable record.
The match kicked off with both teams showing intent, exchanging attacks in a bid to open the scoring early. In the 8th minute, Eid al Farsi nearly put Seeb ahead with a powerful shot from outside the box that went just over the crossbar. Hilal Al Quds responded quickly, with Mohamed Darwish attempting a shot from distance in the 11th minute, but it missed the target.
As the game progressed, Seeb began to assert their attacking style, employing diverse strategies to penetrate the defence, whether from the flanks or through long-range efforts. In the 30th minute, Seeb created a dangerous opportunity when Zaher al Aghbari struck a fierce shot from outside the box, but goalkeeper Issa Obaidan made a brilliant save. Just before the end of the first half, sustained pressure finally paid off for Seeb; Zaher al Aghbari received the ball near the box and fired it into the left corner, concluding the first half with Seeb leading 1-0.
The second half saw Seeb continue their relentless pressure, aiming to widen their lead. In the 56th minute, they successfully doubled it with a well-coordinated team effort: Abdulaziz al Muqbali made a run down the right flank, delivering a perfect cross to Abdulrahman al Mashifri, who tapped it into the net, delighting the fans. Seeb maintained their dominance, forcing Hilal Al Quds’ defence to retreat.
The decisive moment came when the referee awarded Seeb a penalty after Abdulaziz al Muqbali was fouled inside the box. In the 70th minute, Al Muqbali converted the penalty with a powerful shot to the right corner, making the score 3-0 in Seeb's favour.
Hilal Al Quds attempted a few late attacks in hopes of reducing the deficit, but Seeb's defence held strong, thwarting all efforts. The match continued in this manner until the referee blew the final whistle, confirming Seeb's victory and perfect qualification to the quarterfinals. They will face Al Arabi from Kuwait in the first leg on March 5 in Kuwait, with the return leg set for March 11 in Muscat.
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