Sohar regain HM's Cup glory

Muscat: Sohar crashed the party of heavyweights Ahli-Sidab in a penalty shootout to clinch the prestigious His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Tuesday night.

The Batinah side edged 12-time record title holders Ahli-Sidab 4-2 in the shootout after Muscat-based powerhouse had equalised through their skipper Rashad Al Fazari with 27 seconds to go for the hooter to take the game into the penalty strokes.

Sohar, which last won their only title in 2021, displayed a cohesive and compact game and defended well to thwart the wave of attacks from Ahli-Sidab after taking the lead through a penalty corner in the 47th minute through Ahmed Al Noufali.

In the shootout, Ahli-Sidab’s Khalid Al Shuaibi and Ammar Al Shuaibi missed their attempts.

For Sohar, all the players converted their attempts.

For Ahli-Sidab it was the second successive year of disappointment as they had lost to Al Nasr in the last edition.

Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Governor of Muscat, gave away the trophy to Sohar, which also took home OMR40,000 as cash award.

Earlier in the semifinals, Ahli Sidab beat Salalah 2-1 while Sohar toppled holders Al Nasr 5-4.

Sohar head coach Abdulrahman al Balushi said: “My players executed the plan accordingly to register a deserving title win. They worked hard for the title and it is a great feeling to bring the trophy for only the second time.”

Sohar  had one professional player each from India, Argentina and Egypt and was led by former Oman captain Younis Al Noufali.

The result on Tuesday was a repeat of the 2021 edition of Sultanate’s oldest tournament. In 2021, Sohar had defeated Ahli Sidab 2-1, also in a shootout after the teams were locked in a 1-1 stalemate at the end of the regulation time. And on Tuesday, Sohar again won the title in a shootout.

Earlier in the third-place playoff, Al Nasr beat Salalah 3-2 to take the bronze medal. Runner-up Sohar took home OMR25,000 while Al Nasr received OMR15,000.

A total of 10 clubs participated in this edition. They were Ahli-Sidab, Seeb, Sohar, Al Ittihad, Mirbat, Al Nasr, Muscat, Salalah, Dhofar and Saham.