Al Sabhi's last-gasp penalty helps Oman keep World Cup hopes alive

Muscat Daily

2 days ago

Amman, Jordan – Oman kept their hopes of a place at the World Cup finals alive with a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Palestine in Jordan.
Issam al Sabhi's penalty seven minutes into stoppage time earned Oman a draw that gave them fourth place in Group B kept their hopes alive at the expense of Palestine.
Oman will feature in a fourth phase of qualifiers in October alongside Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
A header by Oday Kharoub gave Palestine a 49th-minute lead and a second yellow card for Oman's Harib al Saadi had put Ihab Abu Jazar's side in control until the dying minutes, when Muhsen al Ghassani was brought down in the area.
Al Sabhi stepped up to send goalkeeper Rami Hamada the wrong way to seal fourth place in the group for Oman and eliminate the heartbroken Palestinians.
Palestine, a point behind Oman going into the match, signalled their intent as early as the fourth minute when Michel Termanini hit the bar with a powerful header that left Oman captain and keeper Faiyz al Rusheidi rooted.
Both Ahmad Taha and Oday Kharoub then tried their luck with long range shots, with Aberdeen striker Oday Dabbagh making a spirited run towards goal in the 19th minute before losing the ball.
Oman's first attempt at breaking the deadlock came in the 28th minute, when Rabia al Alawi ran down the right from his own half and took on three defenders in the 18-yard box before ballooning his shot.
Both sides began running out of steam towards the end of the half, with Oman leaving the pitch with an edge in possession despite only having two shots at goal compared to their opponents' nine.
Palestine again started the stronger side, and their efforts paid off in the 49th minute when Kharoub headed home at the near post off a corner by Adamhamza Kayed, who had come on after the break.
Oman were dealt another blow in the 73rd minute when Harib Al Saadi received a second yellow card for a foul on Hamed Hamdan.
Wessam Abou Ali had two chances in the last 10 minutes to double Palestine's lead, but saw his first shot saved by Al Rusheidi and his second go just past the right post.
Issam then stepped up to send Oman into the playoffs after a foul by Taha on Muhsen al Ghassani as Palestine suffered heartbreak right at the very end.