Oman edges Saudis, clinches GCC crown at the GCC U17 Football Championship
Date
8/30/2015 9:06:12 AM
(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The Oman boys ended a long wait for the winner's trophy when they edged past Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout to win the GCC U17 football Championship at Aspire Dome in Doha Qatar on Saturday night.
Oman coached by Yaqoob al Sabahi won the tie-breaker 5-4 after the regulation-time ended goalless.
Oman goalkeeper Yousef al Sheyadi adjudged best keeper of the tournament saved the first shot from a Saudi Arabian player to give the visitors the vital lead during the shootout. Oman's Mohammed al Khamisi Mohammed al Qaidi Yousuf al Malki Sanad al Araimi and Thamer al Zaabi were all on target after that while four Saudi players converted.
Earlier Saudi Arabia dominated the proceedings during the match but Oman managed to hold fort thanks to some solid defending and Yousef's smart goalkeeping.
Oman last won the tournament in 2001 when it clinched the inaugural edition. Saudi Arabia is a four-time winner.
The Saudis went into the final with high hopes of winning a fifth crown following a resounding 4-0 win over Kuwait in their semifinal while Oman had a narrow 3-2 win over hosts Qatar in the other last-four game on Thursday.
Mohammad al Khamisi (4th minute) and Mutassim al Bakri (10th minute) gave Oman a quick 2-0 lead against Qatar but the hosts fought back to level the scores. It was left to Yahya al Hudaifi who struck in the injury-time with a header to take Sabahi's boys to the final.
Oman began its campaign with a 2-1 win over Kuwait and then outplayed Bahrain 2-0 to top Group A.
Oman had lost the previous edition to UAE another four-time winner in the 2013 title clash on penalty kicks. Saturday's title win for Oman in yet another thrilling shootout certainly helped heal those wounds.
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