Oman reach next month's play-off game against Senegal for a place at the London Olympics
Oman shocked Uzbekistan 2-0 today to reach next month's one-off play-off game against Senegal for a place at the London Olympics. Two first-half strikes were enough to gain the necessary win for
Oman, who also weathered a late red card to influential midfielder Eid Mohammed Eid Al Farsi.
Oman's very presence in the three-team Asian play-offs had been called "a miracle" by manager Paul Le Guen, as it owed much to the 3-0 win they were awarded after Qatar fielded an ineligible player in their November group game.
Ahead of today's clash Oman knew nothing less than victory would do after Syria's last-gasp equaliser held them to a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Uzbekistan needed only a draw after they beat Syria 2-1 to top the round-robin mini-table.
But it was Oman who took the lead in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi against their more favoured opponents when Hussain Al Hadri converted a penalty on 16 minutes. And they delivered the hammer blow when Raed Ibrahim Saleh chested down a cross from the right and lashed home the second from close range on the stroke of half-time.
The straight red for Al Farsi, who clattered Uzbek number nine Kenja Turaev, reduced Oman to ten men for the last 16 minutes and cued up a tense finish at the My Dinh National Stadium. But Uzbekistan paid for a lack of quality in front of goal and captain Fozil Musaev's wild slice over the bar, on 85 minutes, was as close as they came to reducing the deficit.
Oman now go into an 23 April intercontinental play-off with Senegal in Coventry, England, with the winner gaining entry to this year's Olympics.
GMT 15:17 2018 Sunday ,21 January
FedExpress steams on as Sharapova grindsGMT 14:43 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Failed ski resort looms over Pyeongchang Games' legacyGMT 14:37 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Nadal ominous in Melbourne as Dimitrov gets back on trackGMT 11:47 2018 Friday ,19 January
Djokovic survives brutal Melbourne heat testGMT 16:57 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Nadal dominant as Wozniacki pulls off great escapeGMT 15:35 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
De Grandhomme seals Black Caps win over PakistanGMT 13:58 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Venus leads seeds tumbling out of OpenGMT 13:37 2018 Monday ,15 January
Leinster secure Champions Cup last-eight spotMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor