Riyadh: Super-sub Said Salim scored a 15-minute hat-trick for Oman in a 5-0 thrashing of Kuwait at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium on Thursday.
The result saw the sultanate top Group B and progress to the Gulf Cup semi-finals with second-placed UAE who beat Iraq 2-0 in a simultaneous fixture at the King Fahd International.
Abdul Aziz Muqbali slotted home Ali Busaidi’s through ball for Oman’s opener on 44 minutes. And in the third minute of first half injury time Salim tapped in Saad Suhail’s cross for a quick second before the interval.
Suhail then supplied Salim for his second and Oman’s third in a similar one-two after the break, before Muqbali sent through Salim for a tap in to complete his hat-trick just after the hour.
Oman then completed Kuwait’s misery before the whistle when Muqbali headed in Ali Busaidi’s cross.
Oman will now play runners-up of Group A Qatar in Sunday’s semi-final, while the UAE will play hosts and Group A winners Saudi Arabia.
