Seeb, Ahli Sidab set for U18 final showdown
The 2025 Under-18 Hockey League will conclude on Tuesday at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat, where Seeb Club will face Ahli Sidab Club in the final match at 8 pm in a highly anticipated showdown to decide the title. Preceding the final will be the third-place play-off between Masirah Club and Al Ittihad Club at 6 pm.
Seeb secured their spot in the final after a thrilling 3–1 penalty shoot-out victory over Al Ittihad in a closely contested and exciting encounter. The match began cautiously in the first quarter with both teams exchanging possession. The best chance came from a shot by Abdulkarim al Balushi that went just wide, while Al Ittihad responded with a dangerous attempt led by Yaseen Medhat, which the goalkeeper brilliantly saved. The second quarter saw a rise in attacking tempo from both sides, but the deadlock remained unbroken. In the third quarter, Al Ittihad increased the pressure, countered by Seeb's quick counterattacks, but rushed finishes kept the score level.
The real drama came in the final quarter, with Al Yazan al Balushi opening the scoring for Seeb in the 51st minute with a powerful strike. Al Ittihad quickly responded through Moatasem Awad, who equalised in the 55th minute, ending regular time 1–1. In the penalty shoot-out, goalkeeper Issa al Raisi was the hero for Seeb, saving three spot kicks. Goals from Mohammed al Shibli, Muhannad al Balushi and Alwaleed al Raisi sealed the win, while Al Ittihad's only successful penalty came from Salem Ahmed.
Match referees pose before the match.
AHLI SIDAB DOMINATE
As for Ahli Sidab, they reached the final after a commanding 5–0 victory over Masirah in a match they controlled from the start. Said al Fazari opened the scoring in the 11th minute, followed by Anas al Siyabi's goal in the 14th to end the first quarter 2–0.
At the start of the second quarter, Masirah pushed forward in an attempt to reduce the deficit, but their efforts were met by a solid defence. Ahli Sidab soon reasserted dominance, with Abdullah al Hosani scoring in the 27th minute and Iyad al Alawi adding another just a minute later, finishing the quarter with a comfortable 4–0 lead.
In the third quarter, Iyad al Alawi struck again in the 41st minute for the fifth goal. The final quarter saw a quieter pace, with the match ending in a deserved 5–0 win for Ahli Sidab.
After the match, Seeb's coach, Hani al Kulaibi, stated that their goal from the outset was to reach the final, noting that earlier setbacks in the competition did not affect the team's morale since those games were primarily for points and placement. He added that the coaching staff worked to correct mistakes and improve performance ahead of the semifinal, which paid off with the victory and qualification. Al Kulaibi concluded by affirming that their ambition now is to win the title.
Meanwhile, Ahli Sidab's coach, Ayman al Kathiri, described the semifinal as a strong and spirited contest from both teams, acknowledging that Masirah showed great competitiveness and made many attempts to score despite the five-goal defeat. He praised his players for executing the agreed-upon tactics precisely, which helped secure the result. Al Kathiri congratulated the players and club management on reaching the final, emphasising that the team will give their utmost to win the title and retain it as defending champions.
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