MUSCAT: Ahli Sidab secured a spot in the Handball Super Cup final after an intense marathon match against Muscat, winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The match was held at the main hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in the Wilayat of Bausher.
Meanwhile, Oman Club achieved a hard-fought victory over Seeb with a score of 26-24 after extra time, setting the stage for a thrilling final next Wednesday.
Ahli Sidab opened the scoring early through their player Muhannad al Zarafi, but Muscat quickly responded with an equaliser. The two teams exchanged the lead in the opening minutes, with Al Azhar al Hidithi levelling the score for Muscat from a penalty shot. After the first five minutes, Ahli Sidab led 3-2 thanks to another remarkable goal by Al Zarafi from outside the area.
Muscat maintained their offensive pressure, with Nawaf al Hosni narrowing the gap. Muscat took the lead for the first time when Badr al Harthi scored following an excellent breakthrough on the right flank. Al Hidithi and Saeed al Hosni then added two more goals, ending the first half with Muscat ahead 14-8.
In the second half, Ahli Sidab showed a fighting spirit. Al Zarafi and Khalid al Jabri scored several crucial goals, cutting the deficit to just two points. The match remained neck-and-neck, reaching an 18-18 tie after a stunning strike by Al Jabri.
The teams continued to battle into extra time, with the score locked at 30-30. The match was ultimately decided in a penalty shootout, where Ahli Sidab's goalkeeper, Huthaifa al Siyabi, delivered a heroic performance by saving the decisive shot, leading his team to a 4-3 victory and a place in the Handball Super Cup final.
In a match filled with excitement, Oman Club defeated Seeb 26-24 after extra time, securing their place in the Handball Super Cup final.
Seeb started strongly, dominating the opening minutes and taking an early lead with two quick goals. Oman Club missed an opportunity to close the gap when Asaad al Hosni's shot hit the post. Seeb capitalised on their chances, with Osama al Kasbi scoring two consecutive penalty goals, putting Seeb ahead 4-0 within the first ten minutes of the game.
Despite Seeb's commanding start, Oman Club gradually found their rhythm. Mohammed al Araimi scored their first goal from a penalty shot, followed by goals from Asaad al Hosni and Mahmoud al Wahaibi, narrowing the score to 5-3 in favour of Seeb.
The two sides traded goals in a competitive atmosphere, with veteran Nasr al Tamtami reducing the deficit to a single point through his exceptional skills. However, Seeb maintained their edge and ended the first half leading 10-9 after a resilient effort from Oman Club.
The second half began cautiously, with Seeb adding their 11th goal early on. Oman Club, showing great determination, managed to close the gap again, with significant contributions from their Algerian professional player, Mohammed.
The game reached its peak in the middle of the second half when Seeb extended their lead to 15-11. However, Oman Club mounted a remarkable comeback in the final minutes. Goals from Hamad al Dughayshi and star player Nasr al Tamtami brought Oman Club back into the game. They managed to level the score and even take an 18-17 lead with two minutes remaining in regular time.
Seeb responded with an equaliser, pushing the game into extra time. During the critical moments, Oman Club asserted their dominance, taking advantage of their players' brilliance and capitalising on key opportunities. They eventually sealed the game 26-24, earning a spot in the final against Ahli Sidab.
Picture by Khalfan al Raziqi
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