Oman crowned Asian champion

2015-03-31 02:13:21

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Goalkeeper Haitham Showan saved the decisive spot-kick as a defiant Oman team defeated Japan 3-2 on penalties to be crowned Asian champion in the 2015 AFC Beach Soccer Championship that concluded at the Katara Beach in Doha Qatar on Saturday.

Skipper Hani al Dhabit opened the scoring for Oman just two minutes into the first period of the final before his Japanese counterpart Ozu Moreira equalised in the 23rd minute.

It turned out to be the last goal of an evenly fought final and with neither side able to make a breakthrough in overtime the match went into a tie-breaker.

Successful penalties from Dhabit and Mandhar al Araimi were matched by Moreira and Shinji Makino and after Abdullah Salim made it 3-2 in favour of Oman the pressure was on Takasuke Goto to keep Japan in the game.

However his effort was saved by goalkeeper Showan as Oman went on to celebrate its AFC Beach Soccer Championship triumph.

Newly crowned Champion Oman runner-up Japan and Iran which won the third-place playoff will represent Asia at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup scheduled to be held in Espinho Portugal from July 9-19.

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