AFC Asian Cup Group A: Oman 1-0 Kuwait

Match highlights: Oman 1-0 Kuwait
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With both teams having lost their first two games to effectively be eliminated from the competition, the meeting between the Gulf rivals had little riding on it.

Oman ensured they did not finish bottom of the group by pulling off a victory thanks to a solitary goal from Abdulaziz Al Muqbali despite Kuwait having much the better of the game.

The Kuwait side will feel hard done by as they outplayed their opponents for much of the match.

However, a goal in the 69th minute by Al Muqbali was all that mattered for Oman at the end of the day.

After a quiet start to the first half Kuwait began to find their rhythm, and managed the first shot on goal in the 11th minute when captain Mesaed Al Enzi fired in a free kick from just outside the box on the right which sailed over the bar.

Just before the half hour mark Khaled Al Qahtani received the ball in space in the box on the right following a fine pass from Abdullah Al Buraiki.

He had time to pull the trigger, but sent in a poor effort that flew high and right of the goal.

Four minutes later on the other side of the box Kuwait had another great chance when Fahad Al Hajeri was unmarked and after being on the end of a fine ball he volleyed wide of the mark.

In the 42nd minute Fahad Al Ebrahim sent in a brilliant shot from the right and well outside the box. It was slightly too high but forced the keeper to make a dive at full stretch to make sure his goal was protected.

The second half saw Kuwait continue to exert pressure on Oman as they went in search of a breakthrough goal.

Five minutes into the second half, Oman¹s Jaber Owaisi came so close to scoring a spectacular own goal when in trying to clear the ball he headed it just over his own cross bar.

In the 53rd minute Al Ebrahim shot low and left of the right hand post from just outside the box.

Shortly after Al Buraiki broke down the right and as he closed in on goal quickly to fire off a shot that was well saved by Oman¹s goalkeeper and captain Ali Al Habsi.

Completely against the run of play Oman broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when they scored a textbook goal.

Mohammed Al Siyabi fired in a pinpoint cross from the right to Al Muqbali, who was unmarked and produced a fine header from close range that easily beat the keeper.

Two minutes later Al Muqbali could have made it 2-0 when he was found in the middle of the box again, but he shot well wide.

Oman maintained the pressure and Qasim Saeed could have added another when he was found in space shortly after on the left but he blasted his shot straight at the keeper.

At the other end Kuwait quickly retaliated and had two fine opportunities to draw level.

In the 79th minute Al Buraiki had a clear header but failed to find the target and then one minute later from a similar position Yousef Naser also glanced the ball wide as Kuwait finished bottom of Group A.

Photo: WSG