Jaber lauds Red Warriors grit as Oman reach World Cup playoffs
MUSCAT: Oman football team head coach Rasheed Jaber hailed his side's fighting spirit and unwavering belief after they secured a dramatic 1-1 draw with Palestine on Tuesday in Amman, clinching a place in the AFC Asian Qualifier - Road to 26 playoff round.
Needing at least a point to keep their FIFA World Cup dream alive, Oman looked set to crash out after conceding early in the second half and being reduced to ten men. But a stoppage-time penalty, coolly dispatched by Issam Al Subhi, saw them snatch a vital draw and book their place in the October playoffs.
'We knew this match would be very difficult. Palestine are well organised and have good players,' said Jaber, acknowledging the quality of their opponents who were on the cusp of advancing to the playoffs in their maiden campaign at this stage.
'They made it very difficult for us, and we then conceded early in the second half. Our situation was made worse by the red card (for Harib Al Saadi) but we never gave up.'
Palestine had taken a 49th-minute lead through Oday Kharoub, and with Oman struggling to break through, their chances appeared all but over. Yet in the dying moments, a foul by Ahmad Taha on Mohsin Al Ghassani gave Oman a lifeline — and they seized it.
'Despite everything, the players fought until the end, and they had the desire and ambition. The players were determined to complete the qualifying campaign,' Jaber added, visibly proud of his squad's resilience.
The result meant Oman advanced to the playoff stage of the Asian Qualifiers, where six teams will be divided into two groups.
Besides the five other teams are Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iraq, UAE, and Qatar.
The group winners will earn direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup, while the two runners-up will face off for a place in the Inter-Confederation playoff, offering a final route to the global stage.
'Now we can think about the next round in October,' said Jaber. 'This is only the beginning — we still have work to do, but tonight, the players showed what it means to believe.'
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