Oman eye third win against Uzbekistan in key AHF Cup clash
Muscat, April 21
Oman national hockey team will play its third group stage match in the Men's and Women's AHF Cup 2025, facing Uzbekistan at the hockey stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday.
The team enters the match with high hopes of continuing its strong run and boosting its chances of qualifying for the advanced stages. With two important victories already under its belt, the team carries significant momentum and confidence in both its collective and individual performances.
Oman are ranked second in Group A with 6 points, having scored six goals and conceded only two.
Oman began their tournament journey with an impressive 3-1 win over Singapore, highlighted by a standout performance from Fahad al Lawati, who netted a hat-trick to secure three valuable points. The first goal came in the sixth minute after a well-organised attack finished with a powerful strike by Al Lawati. He doubled the lead in the 15th minute with a penalty corner conversion. In the third quarter, the star player completed his hat-trick in the 35th minute with a precise pass received inside the circle. Singapore's only goal came in the 41st minute via a penalty corner, as Oman wrapped up a well-deserved win.
OMAN TACKLE HK
In their second appearance on Sunday, Oman faced a tough challenge against Hong Kong and managed another 3-1 victory.
The first quarter saw both teams playing cautiously, focusing on defensive stability and avoiding early goals, with shared possession but minimal goal threats, ending goalless.
Oman emerged with a more attacking mindset in the second quarter, applying constant pressure on Hong Kong's defence. This effort paid off in the 35th minute when Rashid al Fazari received the ball inside the circle and confidently fired it into the net, giving Oman a 1-0 lead.
Hong Kong tried to respond in the third quarter through repeated attacks, but Oman's disciplined and focused defence held firm, neutralising all equalising attempts and threatening on counter-attacks.
The final quarter was packed with action. Mohammed al Noufali extended the lead to 2-0 in the 48th minute with a powerful finish from a well-orchestrated move. Hong Kong pulled one back quickly in the 52nd minute through Ishtiaq Ahmed. However, just two minutes later, Ayman Madid sealed Oman's dominance with a brilliant third goal in the 54th minute, securing a 3-1 victory for the Reds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
20-05-2025
- Observer
Liverpool rocked by Brighton's late fightback
BRIGHTON, United Kingdom: Brighton's Jack Hinshelwood sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool on Monday to leave the Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot's side took the lead through Harvey Elliott's early opener before Yasin Ayari equalised at the Amex Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool's advantage just before the interval, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma levelled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham on April 27. The Reds have lost at Brighton and Chelsea and squandered a two-goal lead in a draw with Arsenal since their record-equalling 20th English crown was confirmed. They can now look forward to receiving the Premier League trophy in Sunday's season finale against FA cup winners Crystal Palace at Anfield before an open-top bus parade through the city 24 hours later. "Great game of football but not the result we wanted," said Slot. "If you don't score the third goal then it's hard to win at this level, especially away from home. We cannot miss chances like we did if you want to win. "I know these players already for 10 months, so it's not the first time I'm judging them, but it's nice to see Harvey score a goal and have an assist. "Federico Chiesa had some nice moments as well considering how long he's not been playing." Slot had admitted that motivating the champions for the final two matches of the season was a tricky task and his fears were confirmed by this sloppy display. Slot's players had a celebratory trip to Dubai this week and only returned to training on Friday, while the Reds boss was seen partying in Ibiza for several days, as they soaked in a title victory secured in April. "Did you see me on social media!" Slot said with a laugh in reply to a question about how focused he had been on the Brighton game. Ahead of his widely-expected move to Real Madrid when his contract expires in the close-season, Trent Alexander-Arnold was left on the bench for a second successive game. Brighton & Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma celebrates scoring their second goal with Jan Paul van Hecke. — Reuters LIVERPOOL CRUMBLE Conor Bradley featured at right-back instead and showed why he is a contender to replace Alexander-Arnold with his role in Liverpool's ninth minute opener. When Mohamed Salah rolled a pass to Bradley, he shifted gears with a dynamic burst into the Brighton area before clipping a precise pass towards Elliott, who slotted home from close-range. The goal meant Liverpool had scored in every away game of a league season for the first time in their history. Bradley's attacking runs had more than a touch of Alexander-Arnold about them, but his finishing wasn't up to scratch when he took Federico Chiesa's pass and fired wide from 10 yards. Ayari grabbed Brighton's eye-catching equaliser in the 32nd minute. The Sweden midfielder eluded Bradley and drilled a fine low finish past Alisson Becker from the edge of the area after Brajan Gruda's lofted pass prised open the Liverpool defence. Liverpool regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Szoboszlai caught out Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with a swerving strike from wide on the right flank that whistled into the top corner. Szoboszlai's bemused grin as he celebrated suggested the midfielder's effort might have been a miscued cross rather than a shot. Salah was captaining Liverpool for the first time in the Premier League to mark his 300th appearance in the competition. But the Egypt forward missed an open goal when he flicked Cody Gakpo's cross wide from five yards. It was a costly mistake from Salah as Brighton equalised in the 69th minute. Welbeck's shot was pushed out by Alisson and Japan winger Mitoma hammered in the rebound. Hinshelwood completed Brighton's thrilling comeback in the 85th minute, the substitute slotting home from Matt O'Riley's cross. — AFP English Premier League results On Monday: Brighton 3 (Ayari 32, Mitoma 69, Hinshelwood 85) Liverpool 2 (Elliott 9, Szoboszlai 45+1) Played Sunday Everton 2 (Ndiaye 6, 45+2) Southampton 0 West Ham 1 (Bowen 86) Nottingham Forest 2 (Gibbs-White 11, Milenkovic 61) Brentford 2 (Mbeumo 22, Wissa 43) Fulham 3 (Jimenez 16, Cairney 68, Wilson 70) Leicester 2 (Vardy 28, McAteer 69) Ipswich 0 Arsenal 1 (Rice 55) Newcastle 0
Observer
06-05-2025
- Observer
Alexander-Arnold confirms Liverpool exit
LIVERPOOL: Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season, saying it was the "hardest decision" of his life ahead of a widely expected move to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of June and the England right-back's future had been the subject of intense debate throughout Liverpool's charge to the Premier League title this season. "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season," the 26-year-old posted on X. "This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life." Alexander-Arnold's contract talks over a free transfer switch to Real are reported to be at an advanced stage. He will depart as a Premier League champion after the Reds moved level with rivals Manchester United on a joint-record 20 English top-flight titles. "I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven't spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team's best interests, which was securing No 20," Alexander-Arnold said. "This club has been my whole life — my whole world — for 20 years. From the academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. "I will forever be in debt to you all. My love for this club will never die." Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold was one of three high-profile Reds players whose deals were due to run out at the end of the season — a contract saga that provided a continuous backdrop to Arne Slot's first campaign in charge. Top-scorer Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk signed new deals in recent weeks but Alexander-Arnold has opted to leave. The defender made his senior debut in 2016 and has made 352 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 23 goals and lifting multiple trophies including the 2019 Champions League and two Premier League crowns. GRATITUDE Liverpool were reportedly willing to make Alexander-Arnold one of the highest-paid defenders in Premier League history in a bid to keep him. But the lure of playing for Real alongside close friend and England team-mate Jude Bellingham proved impossible to resist. Despite the snub, Liverpool paid tribute to Alexander-Arnold, who joined the club as a six-year-old. "Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success," the club said in a statement. In the same statement, Alexander-Arnold said he had "loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams". But he said he wanted a fresh challenge. "Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I've got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that," he said. Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, another Merseysider who graduated from the club's youth academy, was the first Reds player to react to the news on social media. "Thank you for everything brother. Legend. Good luck," he wrote on Instagram. But Alexander-Arnold's mooted move to Real has split Liverpool fans and pundits, with some believing he should have stayed to become a one-club legend. Michael Owen and Steve McManaman both endured difficult relationships with Liverpool supporters after leaving for Madrid in 2004 and 1999, respectively. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher fears Alexander-Arnold faces a similar fate. "By leaving Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold is making it harder for his own club to win its 21st league title and seventh European Cup. That is bound to stir emotions," Carragher said. — AFP
Times of Oman
06-05-2025
- Times of Oman
I need new change": Trent Alexander-Arnold confirms Liverpool exit at end of contract
Liverpool : English right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold informed Premier League 2024-25 champions Liverpool of his intentions to leave the club this summer when his contract expires. Trent's two-decade-long association at Anfield will end with his departure from Liverpool when his contract ends on June 30, 2025. Trent joined Liverpool's Academy at the age of six and progressed through the ranks at youth level before making his senior debut for the Reds in 2016. To date, he has featured in 352 fixtures with Liverpool's crest on his chest, netted 23 goals, and lifted eight major honours, including this season's Premier League title. "I think first and foremost, I want to say it's not an easy decision and there's a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it. I've been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I've ever wanted to here," Arnold said in a statement released by Liverpool. "After giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I've got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that," he added Trent dazzlingly displayed his attacking and defensive skills on the right side. He helped Liverpool add the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup trophies to the illustrious trophy cabinet. Along with this, he was also a part of two Carabao Cups, two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and one Community Shield. "There's a lot I would like to say. The main thing is a massive thank you. You guys have been there from the start with me, you guys have supported me, been there. I've felt the support, the love, everything that you guys have done has never been unnoticed by me, I've loved every single minute of it. I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I've given everything I could to the club," he said. "I'm just hoping that we're able to carry on winning games, the noise [around my decision] doesn't take away from the fact of what we've achieved this season. It has been an amazing season. It has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done," he concluded.
