Saturday 11 / May / 2024
MUSCAT: Oman’s domestic league champions Al Nahda completed back-to-back wins over Syria’s Al Futuwa on Monday as Hamad Al Azani’s side notched up a 1-0 victory at the King Abdulaziz Stadium in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to boost their prospects of a place in the next phase of the AFC Cup 2023/2024.
Issam Al Subhi’s first half goal was enough to earn the Buraimi Governorate side the three points despite Abdullah Fawaz’s 67th minute miss from the penalty spot as Al Nahda moved onto nine points from their four games in Group A.
Only the winners of the group are certain to qualify and the win strengthens Al Nahda’s position at the summit, with the game between second placed Jabal Al Mukaber and Al Ahed postponed.
Palestine’s Jabal Al Mukaber Club are second with three points from two games while Al Futuwa have three points from four matches. Lebanon’s Al Ahed also have three points from two games.
Al Nahda’s next match is on November 27 when they host Al Ahed and conclude their campaign on December 12 with a match against Jabal Al Mukaber.
Al Nahda goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini pushed Mustafa Jnaid’s 13th minute effort around the post as Al Futuwa enjoyed a bright opening while, three minutes later, the Omanis hit the post.
Salaah Al Yahyaei fed the ball through to right back Abdulaziz Al Ghailani, who had pushed up from his position in the defence, and his deflected shot thumped against the woodwork before being cleared.
Thaer Khrouma tried his luck from distance midway through the half, the midfielder striding forward to unleash a fearsome drive from 30 yards that only just cleared Al Mukhaini’s goal.
By the 25th minute, however, Al Nahda had taken the lead. Al Ghailani again threatened as he pushed forward, this time delivering a low cross that Al Subhi gleefully side-footed in from five yards out.
Jnaid carried Al Futuwa’s most significant threat down the left and it was from that avenue that the Syrians almost levelled 14 minutes after the restart. Jnaid drove down the flank before feeding Karam Omran, but he dragged his low shot wide.
Six minutes later Al Nahda were presented with the opportunity to double their lead when Al Subhi was played in behind the Al Futuwa defence, the striker going down under Taha Mosa’s clumsy attempt to claim the ball.
Abdullah Fawaz, however, fluffed his lines from the penalty spot, pinging his right-footed attempt well wide as the Syrians remained within touching distance of a result.
Al Futuwa’s Omran was presented with another sight of goal as the game entered the final quarter, but Al Mukhaini was agile enough to keep out his right foot shot as he dived at full stretch to his left and Al Nahda closed out the game to take the three points.
(With inputs from the-afc.com)
