Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman will be eyeing a semifinal spot in the ongoing AFC U-16 Championship as well as a qualifying berth for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup when they square off against Norther Korea in a quarterfinal match of the Asian event in the western Indian city of Goa on Monday.
With the top four from the Asian championship assured of a place in the World Cup, which will also take place in India in September and October next year, Oman will be hoping to get the better of a strong North Korea side.
While a victory will power them to the semifinals, it will also be a milestone for the Sultanate squad who will be assured of a place in the U-17 World Cup for only second time in the history of their game if they manage to get the better of North Koreans.
So far Yacoub Al Sabahi-coached side have done well in the Asian championship but advanced to the quarterfinals as Group C toppers - which also comprised teams like fellow qualifiers Iraq, North Korea and Malaysia - after a dramatic draw against Iraq.
In their final group match on Thursday, Arshad Al Alawi’s stoppage-time goal ensured Oman topped Group C and progressed to the quarterfinals along with their opponents Iraq after a 1-1 draw.
According to news posted on the Asian Football Confederation website, South Korea had edged ahead of Oman on goals scored -- thanks to their 3-0 lead over Malaysia in the group’s other tie played simultaneously at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -- as the game at GMC Stadium entered its dying minutes.
And Oman, who began the tie on top of Group C, had faced elimination after Mohammed Dawood’s first half opener for Iraq.
But just as it looked like time was running out for the Sultanate team, Al Alawi broke into the area to fire home and flip the script on its head and send Oman back to the top of the group ahead of Iraq on goal difference with South Korea eliminated from the competition.
With a draw enough for both teams to progress to the knockout stages irrespective of the result in Group C’s other tie, the first half-hour saw few clear-cut chances for either side.
Nevertheless, it was Iraq who took the lead with eight minutes remaining before the break.
Ali Ahmed’s long ball over the top saw Oman goalkeeper Yousuf Al Sheyadi and his defenders hesitate and allow Alaa Adnan to nip in and push the ball past the exposed custodian, where the overlapping Dawood was on hand to slot home into the empty net.
Stung at conceding their first goal of the tournament, Oman looked to respond and Yousuf Al Malki’s free-kick from 25-yards out had Iraq ‘keeper Ali Ibadi stretching, but the ball curled narrowly over the crossbar and landed on the top of the net.
With Korea Republic leading against Malaysia at the interval, Oman needed at least another goal to ensure their place in the last eight and just five minutes into the second period, Thamir Al Zaabi drilled inches wide from the edge of the penalty area after he chested down a high pass from Al Alawi.
Oman continued to dictate play in the second period and with 18 minutes remaining the ball fell to Mohammed Al Qaidi inside the penalty area, but a heavy first touch from the substitute saw him forced to take on the shot at an angle and he directed his shot into the side-netting.
And Al Qaidi had a chance barely a minute later from a similar position but this time he steered his shot wide of the opposite post.
As the clock neared 90 minutes, it looked like Oman had passed up their final chance as a Muatasim Al Bakari header from Khalid Al Baraa’s cross grazed the wrong side of the woodwork.
But there was still to be a dramatic end to the tie.
Into added time, striker Al Alawai picked up the ball outside the penalty area and kept on going, rounding three Iraqi defenders and, despite the acute angle, placed the ball across Ibadi and into the opposite corner of the net to end the match, and Group C, in the most extraordinary fashion.
‘Moment has come’
Speaking ahead of the all important match against North Korea, Oman coach Yacoub Al Sabahi said: “Playing against a strong side who had previously won the tournament, it is not going to be an easy game for us. But our team are ready and the players are confident of of doing well.”
“We are fully prepared to face the North Korean team. I hope we will achieve the desired result,” he said.
“It is important for the players to be mentally focused, to think about winning the game.”
Asked about the performance of striker Arshad Al Alawi’s performance which proved vital for Oman so far in the tournament, coach Yacoub said: “Arshad has been our key players for us so far. But Arshad does not play alone on the pitch. All elevan players on the pitch have been doing a great job and working as a team to the good results.”
Expressing the hope for a positive result, Al Sabahi said: “Thankfully all the players are fit. We will be ready. We will strive to get good result and book a long-awaited (U-17) World Cup berth. I think that the moment has come to achieve that goal.”
