DOHA : Oman’s hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup for the first time were shattered on Saturday night after the United Arab Emirates sealed a 2–1 win in a tense AFC Asian Qualifiers playoff at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Oman made a dream start when Amjad Al-Harthi scored in the 12th minute, sending the Red Warriors’ fans into celebration. The team looked composed and disciplined in the opening spell, pressing high and controlling the tempo against their Gulf rivals.
The UAE, however, found their rhythm as the match progressed, equalising midway through the first half after a defensive lapse from the Omani backline. Both sides pushed hard in a fiercely contested second half, with Oman fighting to regain the lead.
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The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute, when the UAE broke through with a swift counterattack to score their second goal, turning the match on its head and silencing the Omani supporters.
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