Muscat: The prestigious final, held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, kicked off at 8pm in front of thousands of fans who filled the 27,000-capacity stadium. The occasion was marked by dazzling fireworks, laser displays and drone shows, creating a festive atmosphere befitting Oman’s most celebrated domestic football competition.

The clash marked the first time Oman Club and Al Nahda had met in a His Majesty’s Cup final. Their only previous encounters in the competition came in the 2008 quarterfinals, where the first leg ended in a draw before Al Nahda progressed with a win in the return leg.

Oman Club entered the final chasing their third title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1979 and 1994, and finishing runners-up in the inaugural 1971 edition. They secured their place in this year’s final after a 1-1 draw against Al Nasr in the second leg of the semifinal, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

Al Nahda, meanwhile, were aiming for their second title after winning their maiden crown in 2023 at the same venue. They booked their ticket to the final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Seeb in the second leg of the semifinal at Al Buraimi Sports Complex.

The highly anticipated decider lived up to expectations. Al Nahda took control of the match, ending the first half with a 1-0 lead. The breakthrough came after Oman Club captain Mohammed Al Maashari was sent off, reducing his side to ten men.

Moments later, Oman defender Basil Al Rawahi inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Al Nahda the advantage in dramatic fashion.

In the dying stages of the game, Al Nahda sealed the result, extending their lead to 2-0 in the 90+1 minute to confirm their triumph and spark jubilant celebrations among their supporters.

The final was officiated by international referee Qasim Al Hatmi, marking his second His Majesty’s Cup final after the 2017-2018 edition. He was assisted by Rashid Al Ghaithi and Omar Al Alawi, with Ali Al Ajmi serving as fourth official.

The VAR system was in operation, led by Mohammed Al Manai and assisted by Jassim Al Amri. Ahmed Bait Jameel served as fifth official, while Ali Al Shukairi acted as match assessor.

Tickets were free and open to all supporters, contributing to a vibrant turnout. Oman Club fans occupied the right side of the main grandstand, while Al Nahda supporters filled the left, creating an electrifying and colourful spectacle throughout the evening.

The Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, inaugurated in 1985 and host of the first final at the venue during the 14th edition between Fanja and Al Ahli, once again provided a grand stage for Omani football history.

As the fireworks lit up the Muscat sky, Al Nahda celebrated a deserved victory, etching another proud chapter into the legacy of His Majesty’s Cup.