Sport news

OMAN’S Hashim Saleh celebrates after scoring a goal
against China in the inaugural match of the four-nation
friendly football tournament at the Sultan Qaboos Sports
 Complex yesterday. — Picture by Mohammed Mahjoub

MUSCAT — Hashim Saleh's brilliance came to the fore once again as the Al Suwaiq striker turned in a star performance scoring two sensational goals in Oman's well deserved 3-1 triumph over a fighting China in the inaugural match of the four-nation football tournament at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex yesterday.

Temperamental playmaker Fauzi Basheer scored Oman's third goal while substitute Qu Bo netted the only goal for the visitors.
The victory helped Oman reach tomorrow's final where they will take on South American side Ecuador who defeated Iran by a solitary goal scored by Fidel Martinez in the 57th minute.

China and Iran will play for the third place before the final. Hashim, who helped the national team script many a historic victories on the international arena, is turning out to be the player to watch at the forthcoming 19th Gulf Cup to be hosted by Oman. The mercurial striker, playing his second match in three days after having led Al Suwaiq to their maiden His Majesty's Cup glory on Monday, showed no signs of tiredness as he got into the act as soon as Oman's coach Claude le Roy sent him in.

After a goalless first half, the Frenchman introduced Hashim into the attack at the start of the second session. And it took the diminutive striker just two minutes to open the account for Oman. In the 47th minute a counter move from the right, saw experienced Fauzi Basheer send the ball into the path of advancing Hashim, who jinked past a rival defender to enter the penalty area before firing the ball between the legs of Chinese custodian Song Zhen-Yi and into the goal.

Encouraged by the goal, Oman went for the kill but it was the Chinese who found the target and scored the equaliser. The goal came off a counter attack, when a Chinese midfielder stole the ball from the Omanis and lobbed the ball into the empty space on the right side of Oman half. And speedy Qu Bo got the better of Omani defenders to enter the box before shooting past a diving Mohammed Huwaidi, who is guarding the bar in place of Bolton Wanderers Ali al Habsi.

Though the Chinese started matching the hosts’ move for move, they couldn't stop Hashim scoring his second in the 74th minute when he received the ball at the left edge of the box and dribbled past two defenders to fire the ball home. Oman's third goal came in the 87th minute off a well-directed pass by Badr al Maimani just minutes after coming on for Imaad al Hosni. The former met a highball in the middle of China half, and kicked it towards Fauzi who was unmarked on the right. An experienced campaigner that he is Fauzi coolly moved forward before placing the ball behind the Chinese goalkeeper.

Earlier in the first half, both teams played well only in patches though it should be said Oman dominated the proceedings and had the better of the exchanges. In the first 15 minutes, Oman missed a couple of scoring chances the culprits being Imaad Ali and Ismail al Ajmi, who failed to convert easy chances. However, towards the end of the session, Oman had the Chinese goal under seize with a series of attacks but they lacked the finish.

Just before the break, China would have gone up if not for Mohammed Huwaidi who made a great diving save off a long-range shot by a China forward. In his post-match comments, a delighted Hashim said: "I am happy for the team. This is a confidence boosting victory for us ahead of the Gulf Cup." "I should thank the coach for sending me in after the first half. I was very tired after playing the His Majesty's Cup final match (against Al Nahda) but the coach promised to use me in the second half. I delighted to help the team win the match and reach the final."

SPECIALIST IN OMAN MEDICAL PANEL
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Oman Football Association (OFA) is trying to arrange one more friendly match with a strong team for the national side before the start of the Gulf Cup on January 4. The national team will continue with their training camp. The players will take a brief break following the four-nation tournament while the professional players playing abroad will be allowed to travel out of the country to play for their respective clubs.

The OFA is said to be looking for another team following Greece team's inability to come here for a friendly. Though the officials are trying their best, it may not be easy to find a team for the purpose as there are no Fifa Days till the end of this year. Coach Claude le Roy is also said to have rejected an idea of playing a friendly match a week before the start of the Gulf Cup. Saudi Arabia had requested to play a match against Oman on December 27.

The OFA, in keeping with their professional approach of preparing the team well for the Gulf Cup, has roped in a sports medicine specialist as well as a masseur and a nutritionist. According to sources, Dr Mahmood al Jufaili, an expert in the sports medicine, joined the medical team of the national team. Ukraine's Rosnam, a masseur, will work along with team's long-term physiotherapist Majid al Wardi. The OFA has also appointed a female nutritionist. Meanwhile, coach Claude le Roy is said to have prepared a list of players who will form the core group from which the Frenchman will finalise the Gulf Cup squad.

The selected players are: Ali al Habsi, Mohammed Huwaidi al Hooti, Ahmed bin Rashid al Khatri, Suleiman bin Said al Shukaili, Mohammed Rabee'a, Khalifa Ayil, Hassan bin Yousuf al Ghilani, Ahmed Mubarak 'Kanu', Ahmed Hadeed, Fauzi Basheer, Said Ashoon, Ismail al Ajmi, Saad bin Suhail al Mukhaini, Badr bin Mubarak al Maimani, Juma Darwish al Maasahri, Hussain bin Ali al Hadari, Ahmed bin Manie al Noobi, Mohammed bin Abdullah al Balushi, Mohammed bin Hamad al Mukhaini, Sultan bin Mohammed al Toqi, Jabr bin Mohammed al Owaisi, Sulayim bin Khaseef al Hassani, Imaad bin Ali al Hosni, Hashim Saleh, Hassan Rabee'a, Mansoor bin Ghumail al Nuaimi, Younus bin Khalifa al Mushaifri, Waleed bin Abdullah al Saadi.