Muscat, Nov 27
Saham managed to clinch a valuable 1-0 victory against Sur in the 11th round of Omantel League at the Sohar Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The first half saw a balanced performance from both teams. The most notable opportunity came in the 19th minute when Sur’s Abdullah al Mushaikhi received a precise pass and struck the ball smartly, but it went narrowly past the right post of Saham goalkeeper Hassan al Buraiki. Despite a lackluster performance overall, Saham had a relative advantage as their attacks posed a greater threat to Sur’s goal. However, Sur’s defence, led by Abdulhafiz Hadeed, successfully dealt with most of the danger.
Sur also attempted to break through with movements from their players, including a dangerous chance in the 21st minute when Mohammed al Mukhaini made a run through the middle, but his attempt fell short. Late in the first half, Saham’s Ali al Hashmi nearly scored in the 38th minute, but his shot missed the target, leaving the first half goalless despite several chances.
The second half began with an unpleasant surprise for Saham when their player, Mostafa Sal, was sent off in the 49th minute following a strong challenge on a Sur player, forcing Saham to play with 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Saham showed resilience as substitute Zuhair al Hasni scored the game’s only goal in the 68th minute.
Sur then pushed hard for an equaliser, applying continuous pressure on Saham’s defence. However, Saham successfully thwarted Sur’s organised attacks, often catching their forwards in offside traps. In the dying moments of injury time, Moatasim Mubarak squandered a golden opportunity to equalise from a direct free kick that deflected off a Saham defender. The match concluded with a 1-0 win for Saham.
With this victory, Saham increased their tally to 13 points, advancing in the league standings, while Sur remained at 7 points, facing a more challenging position in the competition.
AL NAHDA STAY ON TOP
Al Nahda and Al Rustaq played a 1-1 draw at the Al Rustaq Sports Complex.
The first half was marked by cautious play from both teams, as Al Rustaq, sitting at the bottom of the league table, aimed to minimise the threat posed by league leaders Al Nahda. Despite this, Al Rustaq had the first chance in the 11th minute when Ahmed al Adawi's header was comfortably saved by Al Nahda goalkeeper Abdullah al Maamari.
Al Nahda ramped up their attacks down the flanks, but Al Rustaq’s disciplined defence prevented any breakthroughs. Ahmed al Adawi missed another opportunity for Al Rustaq with a header that went over the bar in the 28th minute. Meanwhile, Al Nahda dominated midfield possession but failed to produce significant offensive threats, leaving the first half scoreless amid tight defensive organisation by Al Rustaq.
The second half saw noticeable improvement from both teams, with a clear determination to secure the three points. In the 55th minute, Al Rustaq surprised Al Nahda by scoring the opening goal through Mahmoud al Shaqsi, who capitalised on a counterattack down the left flank and struck a brilliant shot into the net. Al Nahda intensified their pressure on Al Rustaq’s defence, with Nasser al Rawahi firing a powerful shot in the 70th minute that was expertly saved by Al Rustaq’s goalkeeper for a corner.
While Al Rustaq relied on counterattacks that posed threats to Al Nahda’s goal, the league leaders continued their relentless pursuit of an equaliser. In the 87th minute, the referee awarded Al Nahda a penalty after a handball by an Al Rustaq defender. Badr al Alawi successfully converted the spot kick in the 89th minute, levelling the score and keeping Al Nahda in contention.
With the draw, Al Rustaq’s points total rose to 5, but they remained at the bottom of the league standings in 12th place. Meanwhile, Al Nahda increased their tally to 26 points, maintaining their temporary lead at the top of the table.
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