Sport | Football

Oman nose ahead in tight contest

Oman pressed the gas pedal hard but with a firm eye on the rear view mirror to keep their nose slightly ahead in the three-way Group A contest for two places in the 19th Gulf Cup semi finals.

  • By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 23:38 January 8, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Reuters
  • Oman's Mansour Al Naemi (left) fights for the ball with Iraq's Qusay Muneer during the 19th Gulf Cup soccer tournament in Muscat.

Muscat: Oman pressed the gas pedal hard but with a firm eye on the rear view mirror to keep their nose slightly ahead in the three-way Group A contest for two places in the 19th Gulf Cup semi finals.

Hosts Oman and Kuwait, who on Wednesday night won 1-0 against the third contenders Bahrain, must fancy their chances as Bahrain's Czech coach Milan Macala admitted that he has a lot of homework to do before they meet Oman in a crunch tie on Saturday.

Oman were like eagles circling over their prey with wings spread and pouncing at the first available opportunity. Iraq had no answer to the home team's aggressive intentions as the young Omanis played an entertaining version of total football.

The home fans were happy with the 4-0 verdict and celebrated throughout the night by taking out processions as well as holding up traffic.

However, for battle-hardened French coach of Oman, Claude Le Roy, it is not yet celebration time as there is a long road ahead.

"It's a terrific and fantastic win for us, but we need to be calm as we will have to play tougher matches to fulfil our dreams. It's still not time for celebrations and a lot of work has to be done," he said in a post match briefing.

While rejoicing in Oman's biggest ever Gulf Cup triumph and the first on the home soil, Claude showed sympathy for his Iraqi counterpart Jorvan Viera.

"I understand his [Viera] feelings at this stage and I am sorry for him," said Le Roy. Viera, who once again played truant from the post match media briefing, could face disciplinary action from the Technical Committee of the tournament.

Talking about Oman, Le Roy adopted an adventurous style to let his midfielders stay closer to the frontline as they looked for as many as goals as they could to stay ahead in net difference.

The French veteran has a dependable goalkeeper in Ali Al Habsi, who plays for Bolton Wanderers in English Premium League, and rock-solid defenders Mohammad Rabe'ea and Khalifa Ayil. That allows him the option of throwing caution to the wind while mounting an all-out assault. "Yes," Le Roy concurred.

"If a coach has a high-calibre goalkeeper at his disposal, he certainly has more options. Ali is simply too good and no wonder he is with Bolton," said Oman's coach.

Saying that his preference is always to play offensive soccer, Le Roy said Ali had made all the difference and his denial of an Iraqi penalty was indeed a good turning point.

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