(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Armstrong Vas I The Peninsula
Saudi Arabia shattered Oman's dream of qualifying for the semi-final of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup by inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the defending champions and qualified for the semi-finals at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Saudi Arabia thus finished with six points from three matches, with one loss and two wins qualified along with Bahrain from Group B. Oman, which finished with a tally of four points from one win, one loss and one draw did not make it to the next stage. Oman lost the qualification race, as both finished with the same number of points but Bahrain qualified on a better goal difference.
Saudi Arabia take on Group A runners up Qatar in the semi-final on December 5 while in the other semi-final on the same day Iraq, the Group A winners will meet Bahrain, who defeated Kuwait 6-2 in a high scoring match yesterday at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The winners struck twice in the first half. Firas Al Buraikan gave the Saudis the lead in the 26th minute, Hattan Bahebri made it 2-0 with three minutes to go for the first half whistle.
Ten minutes into the second half, Oman pulled one back through Al Mandhar Al Alawi to give a glimmer of hope of fighting back.
The joy was short lived as Saudi Arabia got their third goal of the match with Bahebri adding his name on the scorers list for the second time in the match.
Saudi Arabia were clearly the more superior side on the pitch. They saw more of ball, were more accurate in their passing and punched holes in the defense when it mattered the most.
Saudi Arabia, which started their Gulf Cup campaign on a losing note to Kuwait, went on the offensive right from kick off.
Coach Herve Renard side, needing a win to qualify for the semi-finals, set the pace of the match with their lion share of possession in the first half.
The Saudis had 66 percent possession in the first half and made 356 passes with an 85 percent accuracy rate. On the other hand, Oman were contend in getting back at the Saudi defense through the counter attacks.
Saudis which took to the field in the first match of the group without seven of the Al Hilal players, part of the AFC Champions League winning side, have been a transformed side in their next two matches with the return of the Asian club title winning members.
Both the teams took time to test the goalkeeper's and it was Oman's Mohsin Al Khadi, who fired a long ranger which the Saudi keeper Hassan Altambakti deflected for a flag kick.
Saudi Arabia opened the scoring through 19-year-old Buraikan who kept his composure to deflect home a cross from play maker Yasir Alshahrani.
Saudi Arabia continued to dictate terms in the midfield with some skillful play keeping Oman players guessing a number of times. Oman did try to break open the Saudi defense but without any success. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia consolidated the lead with a few minutes to go for the first half.
Bahebri, one of the Al Hilal players in the side, converted a cross to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Oman started with a bang scoring in the 10th minute to give hopes of a comeback.
Oman striker Al Alawi wrong footed a rival defender and seeing a small opening infront of him unleash a long ranger which beat the Saudi keeper Altambakti all ends up.
The joy of Oman supporters, who outnumbered the Saudi fans, was however short lived as Saudi again broke through the defense to make it 3-1.
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