MUSCAT: The Ibri team advanced to the quarterfinals of the His Majesty's Cup football championship after defeating Al Rustaq 11-10 in a penalty shoot-out at the Ibri Sports Complex on Thursday evening.
The match witnessed intense competition as both teams exchanged attacks but failed to find the net during regular and extra time, despite several scoring opportunities. Notable attempts included strikes by Moataz al Balushi and Dawood al Jabri from Al Rustaq, while Ibri’s goalkeeper Sultan al Raqadi made critical saves. In the penalty shoot-out, Ibri showcased remarkable focus, sealing the victory by scoring 11 penalties to Al Rustaq's 10.
SEEB THRASH FANJA
Seeb Club qualified for the HM's Cup quarterfinals after they blanked Fanja 3-0 at the Seeb Sports Stadium.
Fanja started the match strongly, attempting to assert dominance in the opening minutes by leveraging the movement of their frontline. They applied significant pressure on Seeb's goal in an early effort to score, but Seeb's defensive line and the brilliance of goalkeeper Bilal al Balushi kept them at bay.
As the first 10 minutes passed, Seeb began to regain composure and organise their ranks. This newfound balance allowed the team to create several dangerous chances, though Fanja's goalkeeper, Alaa al Hamdani, and a well-organised defence managed to maintain a goalless stalemate for a while.
In the 22nd minute, Seeb broke the deadlock with a goal from Abdulaziz al Maqbali, who capitalised on a brilliant pass from Zahir al Aghbari. Al Aghbari skillfully maneuvered past the defence to deliver a golden assist, which Al Maqbali converted with a powerful shot. Following the goal, Fanja's pace slowed, allowing Seeb to dominate and end the first half leading 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Seeb coach implemented tactical substitutions, introducing Omar al Salti and Amjad al Harthy to inject additional energy into the midfield and attack. Seeb wasted no time capitalising on their momentum, with Al Maqbali scoring his second goal in the 58th minute after an accurate pass inside the penalty area, doubling the lead.
Despite Fanja’s coach, Majid Al Wahaibi, making offensive changes to alter the outcome, Seeb's defence remained impenetrable. In the 90th minute, substitute Omar al Fazari sealed the win with a third goal, confirming Seeb’s superiority as the match concluded 3-0. Seeb will now face Ibri in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The HM Cup 2024-25 Round of 16 is played in a single elimination format, while the quarterfinals and semifinals will follow a two legged (home and away) knockout system. The final will revert to a single match format to determine the champion.
Pics by: Abdulwahid al Hamadani
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
