Latest news with #Al-Seeb
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
FC Goa show will and skill to qualify for ACL2
Kolkata: In the worst of times for football in India, trust the players to provide succour. The women have earned seats at the high table of Asian football. On Thursday, FC Goa followed them, beating Al-Seeb of Oman 2-1 in an Asian Champions League Two qualifier. They will join Mohun Bagan Super Giant and it will be the first time two Indian clubs will be in the main round of Asia's new tier two competition. FC Goa's Sandesh Jhingan in action against Al-Seeb on Wednesday. (Nikhil Patil/AFC) 'We had to grind it out but we are going to the Asian Champions League Two and I am excited,' said Sandesh Jhingan in a flash interview to official broadcaster Khel Now TV. Dejan Drazic and Borja Herrera were first among equals in a performance that combined heart with tactical nous against a team that started with nine players from the Oman national side. On a heavy pitch, Drazic put Goa ahead in the 24th minute with a lob that melded chutzpah and composure. It came against the run of play after Herrera's long pass beat Al-Seeb's high line. Javier Siverio made it 2-0 in the 53rd following a spell of domination but once Al-Seeb scored through Nasser Sultan Al-Rawahi in the 61st, FC Goa effectively deployed a low block and delaying tactics to defend for nearly 36 minutes, including seven minutes of second-half stoppage time. They could also have scored in the 81st but on the turn, Siverio shot out. It was Herrera's industry, taking on players, turning inside and finding Siverio with a pin-point pass that had led to the move. Drazic's tendency to mar a good evening by brain fade nearly hit FC Goa again. It was his pass to nowhere that had given Bengaluru FC a goal and a berth in the 2024-25 ISL final. Against Al-Seeb, Drazic's 43rd minute hand ball had Chinese referee Zhang Lei awarding a penalty which he changed to a free-kick after consulting his assistant who felt the connection had happened outside the area though replays suggested otherwise. Al-Seeb attacked full backs Aakash Sangwan and Boris Singh through Zahir Sulaiman, underlapping left-back Ali Al-Busaidi and midfielder Salaah Al Yahyaei but missing was the final ball. Of the kind Herrera found, first for Drazic, who put in a tremendous shift, and then for Siverio with the outside of his boot. Siverio connected with a header after goalie Ahmed Al-Rawahi left his line and failed to collect. The goal came following a corner-kick won by Drazic driving inside from the left. 'They are a fantastic side but we were also dangerous when we arrived (in the box),' said FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez savouring the win after a difficult few months as India coach.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
FC Goa beat Oman champions Al-Seeb 2-1, qualify for AFC Champions League 2 group stage
FC Goa on Wednesday beat Oman champions Al-Seeb 2-1 in their one-match AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage to go through to the group stage of the continental tournament. The result comes amid crippling uncertainty for Goa and other clubs playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) with the league's existence up in the air. It is also a bit of a redemption for head coach Manolo Marquez, for whom this was the first competitive match since his rather forgettable tenure as India's head coach ended. Dejan Dražić and Javier Siverio scored for FC Goa as they managed to keep out some spirited attacks from Al-Seeb towards the end of both the halves. Goa will now discover their group stage opponents on Friday. Marquez had said before the match that he doesn't have any thoughts of redemption in mind and that this night was all about the club's mission to make it to the group stage of the Champions League 2, which is the second tier continental competition for Asian teams. India will be hence be represented by two clubs in the tournament this season, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant having already qualified for the group stage after winning the ISL last season. Goa had qualified for the preliminary stage after winning the Super Cup. Al Seeb started aggressively, with Nasser Al Rawahi forcing defender Pol Moreno into an acrobatic clearance in just the second minute of the match. Zahir Al Aghbari's follow-up from inside the box was blocked. Goa didn't take long to take the attack to the opposition though, with Drazic breaking free on the left in the ninth but but with only the keeper to beat, the midfielder's soft shot was easily collected by Ahmed Al Rawahi. Al Rawahi was in the thick of things again for Al Seeb in the 23rd minute when his timely tackle opened up space to set up Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali, whose curling effort was parried away by FC Goa keeper Hrithik Tiwari. The Al Seeb goalkeeper, however, was found wanting more often than not in crucial moments, which ultimately costed the Oman champions a place in the ACL 2. Goa took the lead when Borja Herrera's instinctive long pass found Dražic on the left. The midfielder evaded Al Rawahi's challenge before delicately chipping the ball over Ahmed Al Khamisi and into the back of the net. Goa sat further and further back into their own half as the first 45 minutes progressed and were probably a little relieved to hear the half-time whistle. Al-Seeb were especially miffed as a penalty that they had received in the dying stages of the first half was overturned when the linesman told the referee that the hand ball, which triggered the decision had happened outside the box. Replays indicated that this may have been an erroneous call. The ISL side were dominant in the opening minutes of the second half and they eventually had a goal to show. Herrera's cross off a corner floated into the box perfectly for Siverio to rise above Al Rawahi for a headed finish. Al Seeb, the 2022 AFC Cup winners, reduced the deficit at the hour mark through Nasser Al Rawahi's strike from close range off Ali Al Busaidi's cutback, but that was to be it as FC Goa became the second Indian side to book their spot in this season's Group Stage after 2024-25 ISL Shield Winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Both Goa and Bagan will discover their Group Stage opponents after the draw on August 15.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
FC Goa bank on old and new in difficult ACL2 qualifier
Kolkata: On Wednesday's winner-takes-all match against Oman's Al-Seeb hinge FC Goa's hopes of being assured of competitive football from September to May. It explains why Manolo Marquez said 'most Indian teams would like to be in our position.' Sure, All India Football Federation (AIFF) has promised the Super Cup next month, and a league, but so far they remain only that –promises. FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez hopes the team will connect with the crowd like it did in the ISL semi-final against Bengaluru FC in Goa. (FC Goa on X) Win the Asian Champions League Two qualifier at home and FC Goa will join ISL league shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the main round of this new tier 2 competition. It will be the first time two Indian teams will be in the finals of the 29-team tournament that offers over $16m in prize money with $300,000 being assured for making the group stage. But we are getting ahead of the story. Al-Seeb won the 2022-23 AFC Cup, the competition that made way for this, have 11 players in the Oman squad that is in contention for a 2026 World Cup berth and are the reigning Oman Professional League champions. 'Good opponents, it will be difficult for us but for sure, it will be difficult for them,' said the FC Goa's head coach at the pre-match media conference in Goa on Tuesday. Al-Seeb, their Romanian coach Tita Valeriou said speaking through an interpreter, have one foreign player, in attack. FC Goa have six, three of them new though forward Javier Sivero has been in India for five seasons. 'The team is balanced if we play all six,' said Marquez. But we also need to finish the game in a strong way because extra-time is possible, he said. David Timor, the 35-year-old left-footed central midfielder with over 150 matches in La Liga, has replaced Carl McHugh. It was a tough decision but Goa decided to go for Timor's experience, Marquez had said earlier. Odei Onaindia wanted to end his career close to his home in Spain's Basque region so Pol Moreno, the central defender from Barcelona who was with Racing Santander last, has been bought. A first-time defensive pairing of Moreno, 31, and Sandesh Jhingan is likely though Marquez did not rule out playing three centre-backs. The other foreigners, Iker Guarrotxena, Borja Herrera and Dejan Drazic are among the 20 players Goa have retained. Both teams had a month to prepare. Awaiting formalities of being released from the post of India head coach meant Marquez began training on July 18, nearly one week after reaching Goa. Al-Seeb are in Goa after losing a one-off match to Al-Shabab, winners of the 2023-24 cup competition, on penalties. They also played a pre-season friendly tournament. Winners of the Super Cup last season, which gave them a half-berth in Asia, FC Goa were among the continent's elite in 2021. Clubs from Goa have had a good run in the AFC Cup with five-time I-League champions Dempo being the first Indian team to make the semi-final in 2008 beating a team from Oman en route. In1989, Salgaocar were the first team from the football-loving state to play in Asia when they participated in the Asian Club Cup in Muscat. 'It will be a hard game, especially because Goa FC will play in front of their fans and supporters,' said Valeriou whose team reached Goa three days ago to acclimatise. Marquez said he hoped the crowd would connect like it did in the ISL semi-final against Bengaluru FC. 'I never saw before in Goa….Now we are in the Asian competition. I hope that tomorrow they will come in a good number,' he said. This is Marquez's third season at FC Goa, a club he has said is the best in India. Temperature fluctuations due to rain, heat, humidity, and conducting training sessions through them, had him admitted to a hospital in his first season. Marquez still does not like the monsoon but a mid-week victory could make him hate it less.
Arab Times
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi books AFC Challenge League semifinal spot
MUSCAT, March 13: Al-Arabi clinched its place in the semi-finals of the AFC Challenge League after overcoming Omani club Al-Seeb in a dramatic quarter-final clash at Seeb Sports Stadium in Muscat. Having won the first leg 1-0, Al-Arabi faced a strong challenge in the return fixture, as Al-Seeb secured a 2-1 victory, forcing the match into extra time. Moroccan professional Sofiane Bouchar emerged as the hero, netting the decisive goal in the 102nd minute to send Al-Arabi through to the next round. The match saw Al-Arabi take the lead early through Hussein Ashkanani in the 23rd minute, but Al-Seeb responded with an equalizer from Abdulrahman Al-Mushafri in the 41st minute. Camara then put Al-Seeb ahead in the 87th minute, setting the stage for a tense finish before Bouchar's crucial extra-time strike. Al-Arabi will now face Turkmenistan's Arkadag in the semi-finals on April 9 and 16. The two sides previously met in the preliminary round of the tournament last year, with Al-Arabi securing a 3-2 victory. Al-Arabi Club President Abdulaziz Ashour praised the team's determination and efforts in securing qualification, expressing confidence in its ability to maintain this momentum in the upcoming rounds. As a token of appreciation, Ashour awarded each player 1,000 dinars following the hard-fought victory. Meanwhile, Al-Arabi's Youssef Majed is undergoing treatment at Turkish club Galatasaray's medical clinic for a shoulder injury sustained late last year. He is expected to return to training in early April.
Arab Times
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsiya finalizes preparations for Gulf Club Champions League semifinals
DUBAI, March 2: Al-Qadsiya wrapped up its training session this evening in Dubai, UAE, as the team prepares to face Al-Nasr at Al-Maktoum Stadium in the semi-finals of the Gulf Club Champions League. Al-Qadsiya will be without Libyan Mohammed Soula and Jassim Al-Matar due to injury, along with Nigerian Daniel Jibola, who is suspended due to card accumulation. Meanwhile, UAE's Al-Nasr confirmed that Abdullah Toure has suffered a second-degree tear in the posterior muscle of his left foot. The injury was sustained during the 17th round of the ADNOC Professional League against Al-Jazira. Toure was absent from Al-Nasr's recent match against Ajman last Thursday, which ended in a 1-2 defeat in the 18th round. This result extended Al-Nasr's winless streak to four consecutive league matches, leaving them in seventh place with 26 points. On the other hand, Al-Arabi resumed training on Saturday in preparation for hosting Oman's Al-Seeb this Wednesday at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in the first leg of the Asian Challenge League quarter-finals. Coach Nasser Al-Shatti granted his players a rest following their 2-1 victory over Al-Nasr in the seventh round of the Zain Premier League. The win allowed Al-Arabi to share the top spot with Kuwait SC, boosting team morale ahead of their crucial match against Al-Seeb. Al-Arabi will have a full squad available, except for Salman Al-Awadhi, who remains sidelined due to injury. The Al-Seeb delegation is scheduled to arrive today. The Omani club has been struggling with inconsistent performances domestically, recently dropping two points in the title race against Al-Nahda, and reducing its lead to just three points. Notably, Al-Seeb suffered defeats in both the Sultan of Oman Cup final against Al-Shabab and the Omani Super Cup against Dhofar. Their performance has been in decline since the start of the league's second round.
