Friday 06 / June / 2025
MUSCAT- A dominating Jordan outplayed hosts Oman 3-0 in their penultimate AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group B tie at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday.
The defeat ended Rasheed Jaber-coached Red Warriors' hopes of a direct spot from the group as the top two would seal the berth. With just one game remaining, Oman, now at 10 points, can manage only three more points, which would not be enough to even keep the third spot as they are now fourth.
South Korea lead the standings and have qualified with 17 points while Jordan after the win are second at 16. Iraq are third with 13 and the match between Jordan and Iraq in Amman on 10 June will decide the second team from the group to seal the spot.
Oman take on Palestine in their final game of the round on 10 June with Palestine at fifth spot with seven points. Kuwait are at bottom with six points.
Jordan will remain in pole position against Iraq as they only have to avoid defeat to advance.
Jordan's win against Oman was marked by
Ali Olwan's hat-trick.
At the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, both sides tested each other in the first 10 minutes, and Oman captain and keeper Faiz Al Rusheidi had his first shot of adrenaline when Mousa Al Ta'mari put the ball past him in the 11th minute only for the Ligue 1 midfielder to be ruled offside.
The hosts’ slow and steady build-up was hampered by poor finishing, with Abdul Al Mushaifri and Harib Al Saadi both fluffing their shots in the 15th and 19th minutes respectively.
Issam Al Sabhi then had a golden opportunity to put Oman ahead, but his close range shot in the 24th minute was resolutely palmed away by keeper Yazeed Abulaila.
A brilliant through ball from Al Saadi from his own half in the 31st minute found Al Sabhi, who controlled the pass with his first touch but then stumbled under pressure in the box.
Jordan, who only had two shots at goal in regulation, were awarded a penalty five minutes into time added on after a VAR review found Mohannad Taha had been brought down, with Olwan duly converting to give his side the advantage going into the break.
It got even better for Jordan six minutes into the second half as a quick break saw Olwan getting his second when he side-footed home Yazan Al Naimat’s pass from the left beyond the reach of a diving Al Rusheidi.
Olwan completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute when he gleefully put the ball into an empty net after Al Rusheidi was caught off-position on the right by Al Ta'mari’s pass.
Oman made five substitutions but it proved a little too late and the West Asians will have to give it their all in their final match against Palestine on Tuesday.
