Oman enter Gulf Cup final (Victory over Bahrain in semifinal 1-0)

Oman moved a step closer to Gulf Cup glory after a solitary goal victory over Bahrain in the first semifinal of the 23rd edition of the regional football extravaganza in Kuwait on Tuesday.

It is one of the ironies of football that sometimes a team’s destiny is made or marred by an own goal. And at the Jaber Al Ahmed International Stadium in Kuwait City, it was Oman who benefited from an own goal by Bahrain’s Mahdi Abduljabbar.

The 1-0 verdict paved Oman’s way into the fourth final where the 2009 champions will be hoping to corner glory for the second time with a victory over the winners of the second semifinal between Iraq and the UAE.

Against Bahrain on Tuesday, it was Oman who dominated the proceedings but it was their opponents who made Pim Verbeek-coached side’s task easy by netting the goal in the 29th minute.

The goal came just after a splendid save by Bahraini custodian Said Mujtaba Alawi. Against run of play, captain Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’ put the ball through for Khalid Al Hajri, who gave a back pass to Jameel Al Yahmadi.The latter unleashed powerful shot but the rival goalkeeper just about managed to tip the ball over the bar.

But soon the Bahraini custodian was left frustrated when Oman went ahead off the resultant corner when veteran Omani winger Saad Suhail floated the ball in and unfortunate Mahdi Abduljabbar head the ball into his own goal.

Pim Verbeek’s decision to switch back to 4-2-3-1 formation, instead of 4-4-2 he preferred in their final Group A game against Saudi Arabia, paid off well for the Omanis.

The Dutch coach went with lone striker Khalid Al Hajri in front of attack-minded trio of Raed Ibrahim, Mohsin Johar and Jameel Al Yahmari with captain Ahmed Mubark ‘Kanu’ and Hareb Al Saadi marshling the midfield.

The four-man defence in front of custodian Fayeez Al Rusheidi was ably manned by Ali Al Busaidi, Mohammed Al Musallami, Fahmi Said and the experienced winger Saad Suhail.

Verbeek’s tactics worked well against Bahrain whose moves were restricted to the midfield thanks largely to Oman’s solidity in that area.

However, it was winger Saad Suhail who set the ball rolling for the Sultanate squad with a threatening move five minutes into the match when he sped down the right before taking a shy at the rival goal. But the Bahraini defenders thwarted the danger.

Oman went on to waste two clear goal scoring chances after quarter hour. First captain ‘Kanu’ was in the thick of action as Oman developed a move from the left but unmarked Mohsin Johar saw his shot fly over the bar.
Soon after it was Saad Suhail’s turn to side-net the ball after being fed from the midfield.