AsianCup2023 | Group F : Saudi Arabia 2 - 1 Oman

Regional heavyweight and three-time Asian Cup champions Saudi Arabia get underway in Group F against Oman, who made it to the round of 16 in the last edition of the tournament. Expectations are running high for both teams here in the Khalifa International Stadium in El Dorayan. Head coach Roberto Mancini knows how to win tournaments and he gives the nod to Ahmad Al Kassar in goal. Second start for the Green Falcons and Ali Albulai makes his 50th start in defence Oman's head coach Franco Ivankovic has Ibrahim in goal, captain Harib Al Zahri in the middle of the park, while it's Moussa Al Ghazani up front. Action-packed start sees the game burst into life in the first 10 minutes. Salah was looking for Moussa Al Ghazani in the box and Hassan Al Tambakty has inadvertently stepped on his foot and the referee Sean Evans points to the spot. Penalty to Oman, Salah Al Yaeef from the spot, sends the keeper the wrong way and Oman take the lead in the 14th minute after a great counter-attacking move. But the game being played at a really high tempo, Saudi Arabia looking for a way back into the game, Salah Al Zahri breaking into the box and it's blocked by Ibrahim in goal, with the captain bearing down on goal. The goalkeeper does really well at his near post to keep that one out, but Saudi Arabia come again in the 31st minute, the ball comes to Sami Al Najee and it's deflected just past the post, Ibrahim at full stretch and Saudi Arabia coming closer and closer to the goal of Oman and shortly before half-time, long ball to Saud, nodded back to Sami on the line, how did Ibrahim get to that one? It seemed a certain goal as a scintillating first half of football comes to a close, you feel there'll be plenty more chances in the second half if Saudi Arabia play like that and the heavyweights come out swinging in the second half, Salah Al Zahri with his back to goal, wraps his foot around and it's just too high over the bar, Saudi Arabia still knocking on the door of Oman, an intense second half continues with Saudi Arabia committing players forward, Oman looking to hit them on the break and goalscorer Salah on the byline working his magic and what a goal that would have been, trying to take the pressure off the defence and he tries the spectacular as well and it wasn't too far away, he could have put the game out of the reach of Saudi Arabia but instead it's back at the other end with substitute Abdulrahman Garib, a sea of red in front of him but he's dancing his way through and he puts it past Ibrahim to make it one, absolutely dazzling, he dances his way through the defence before finding the finish that Saudi Arabia had been looking for, the Al Nasser winger sets up a frantic final few minutes will we see a winner? Oman's heads are ringing and the ball is sent deep towards Saud Abdulhamid and it's agonising, Liras arriving at the back post, as we enter stoppage time, Saudi Arabia have forced the corner and it's fired into a pack of players, flicked on and it's in and have Saudi Arabia landed the knockout blow? Wolvard says he's onside and the goal is going to stand, it's the winner for Saudi Arabia and a pulsating encounter comes to the most dramatic of ends, Oman are down but they're not out, they'll be back on their feet and ready to go again as they face Thailand in the next match, while jubilant Saudi Arabia will take on the Kyrgyz Republic, final score 2-1