Tuesday 01 / April / 2025
MUSCAT- In a clash of former champions, Oman upset Japan 3-2 in their AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025 semi-final in Pattaya on Saturday.
The win also sealed Talib Hilal-coached side its ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025..Oman will face three-time champions Islamic Republic of Iran in the final on Sunday.
This will be the sixth appearance for Oman in the global showpiece event, and fourth in a row since making their debut at the worlds in 2011. All the participation have been under Talib Hilal, a rare achievement for a coach. Oman made it to the World Cup finals in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
Except for a few weak charges from Japan, the first few minutes of the high-stakes game saw both former champions adopting a cagey approach.
Oman, champions in 2015, burst into life in the eighth minute when Yahya’s long-range shot from the right flank went past Japan’s Takaaki Oba, Ozu Moreira and goalkeeper Takeru Furusato before settling in the net.
Teruki Tabata’s charges had a chance to restore parity in the final minute of the first period but Oba’s bicycle kick beat Oman keeper Younis Al Owaisi but not the crossbar.
The first few minutes of the second period saw Oba’s repeated attempts thwarted by the woodwork and the Oman backline, but Japan finally found their equaliser in the 17th minute through Chikara Eguro.
Eguro capitalised on a deflection after Oba’s attempt was blocked and sent a left-footed shot from a difficult angle past the Oman custodian.
Japan took the lead in the 21st minute when captain Ryota Tsuboya received a precise lobbed pass from Kosuke Matsuda and beat Oman’s Mushel Al Araimi to find the back of the net, giving Japan the advantage ahead of the second break.
Three minutes into the final period, it was all square once again as Oman goalkeeper Younis’s throw found Abdullah Salim at the other end, whose acrobatic effort sent the ball into the centre of the Japan net.
Oman then regained their lead when Younis' shot from the Oman goal line went unchallenged, sailing straight into the Japan net as they advanced to the final in stunning fashion.
