Breaking News: Oman lifts Gulf Cup 2017

Goalkeeper Fayeez Rusheidi emerged hero as Oman defeated the United Arab Emirates 5-4 on penalties in Kuwait on Friday to garner Gulf Cup glory for the second time in the history of the championship

Earlier, with both Oman and the UAE failing to find their target during the 90 minutes of regulation time and the 30 minutes of extra-time, the 23rd Gulf Cup final went into penalty shoot in Kuwait on Friday.
 

Earlier, goalkeeper Fayeez Rusheidi made a superb penalty save in the 88th minute as dominant Oman took their Gulf Cup final against the UAE into extra-time.

Oman missed a number of scoring opportunities a superb penalty save by Fayeez Al Rusheidi in Kuwait City on Friday took the match beyond 90 minutes.
By the end of regulation time, neither team had managed to open their account.

For the entire 90 minutes, it was the Sultanate’s squad who dictated terms but failed to translate their threatening moves into goals. Their lack of finishing, after creating a number of goal-scoring chances in both halves, almost cost them the match, when the 2009 champions conceded the penalty with Mohammed Al Musallami bringing down Ali Ahmed Mabkhoot in the danger zone in the 88th minute.

UAE’s best player Omar Abdulrahman walked to the spot to take the penalty. But Omani ’keeper Fayeez Rusheidi kept his cool and dived to his right to make a splendid save to keep the score at 0-0.

In the first half, playing to a plan and with purpose, Oman dominated the proceedings but the all-important goal eluded them.

The 2009 champions were in control of the match from the kick off and created a handful of scoring opportunities, two of which should have hit the back of the net.

With coach Pim Verbeek sticking to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and starting with the same eleven that he fielded in the semi-final win over Bahrain, Oman showed their aggressive intent with a series of attacks which exerted pressure on their opponents.

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