(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Nearly seven months since it tasted its only defeat in the 2017-18 Omantel League season, newly-crowned champion, Al Suwaiq, suffered its second loss of the season on Saturday when hosts Mirbat upset the holder 3-1 at the Salalah Sports Complex.
It was only last week that Hakeem Shaker's side was crowned the domestic season champion as it had taken an unassailable 16-point lead over second-placed Al Shabab with four matches to go for the conclusion of the league.
It was also the team's first loss since Shaker took over as coach in March this year.
The Batinah side's celebrations were cut short on Saturday as Mirbat produced a dominating display in front of its home supporters. The hosts raced to a 2-0 goal lead in the first quarter (second and 12th minute) of the match but Suwaiq's Omar al Fazari got a goal in the 22nd minute to signal a fightback.
Mirbat led 2-1 at the break and its defence stood firm to keep Suwaiq strikers at bay and took the game further away from the champion when Mirbat's Marcel scored his second goal of the match in the 73rd minute
Mirbat thus avenged its earlier away loss to Suwaiq in the league when it had gone down by an identical score.
Elsewhere, hopes were diminishing for nine-time champions Fanja to stay in the top-flight as it was held to a goalless draw by second-placed Al Shabab at the Seeb Sports Stadium.
Fanja had to pay a heavy price for missing a penalty from Mazin al Saadi as the draw left it languishing at the bottom with 24 points and just three games remaining.
The bottom-three teams of Omantel League are directly relegated to the First Division from this season and Fanja along with former winner, Saham (24), and Oman (26) are currently in the drop zone. Saham too was held to a 1-1 draw by Oman on Friday with the teams unable to take any benefit out of the result.
In the other games played on Saturday, Sohar drew with Mudhaibi 2-2 while Al Arouba was held to a goalless draw by Al Nasr.
Earlier on Friday, Al Nahda beat Al Salam 2-0 to keep pace with third-placed Al Nasr as both teams now have 35 points each.
Record ten-time winners Dhofar scored a big 3-0 win over Muscat to climb to sixth spot, weeks after struggling in drop zone. The star of Dhofar's win was Spanish striker Hugo Lopez, who struck a brace in the win while Hathim al Roshdi got the third goal.
The next round will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by the penultimate round games on May 26-27.
All teams will be in action on the concluding day of the league on May 31 with Suwaiq receiving Omantel League shield at the Seeb Sports Stadium.
Standings [after 23rd round]: 1 Al Suwaiq (57 pts), 2 Al Shabab (42), 3 Al Nasr (35), 4 Al Nahda (35), 5 Al Arouba (31), 6 Dhofar (29), 7 Mirbat (29), 8 Muscat (27), 9 Sohar (27), 10 Mudhaibi (27), 11 Al Salam (27), 12 Oman (26), 13, Saham (24), 14 Fanja (24).
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