Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Muscat: Substitute Hatem Al Hamhami scored twice as tournament hosts Oman made the ideal start to the AFC U-22 Championship with a comfortable 4-0 win over Myanmar at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Saturday.
Experienced 21-year-old Raed Ibrahim, who is a regular for the Oman national team and the most experienced player in Philippe Burle’s squad, opened the scoring midway through the first half before Sami Al Hasani added a second just after the hour mark.
And after replacing the injured Al Hasani, Al Hamhami scored twice in the space of six second half minutes as Oman moved to the top of the Group A table after Korea Republic earlier shared a 1-1 draw with Jordan.
“We did our job and we did what we wanted to. We just needed to win. Myanmar were very technical and had a lot of speed,” said Oman coach Burle.
“Hatem does not play much for Al Suwaiq but now you have the answer why I picked him. I go to see a lot of matches and trainings and see what they can do and I imagine if this player can help us. He is a powerful player and he has a good future as we don’t have a player like this in Oman who has such speed. He is also born in 1994 so he has a future with the next generation.”
The hosts made a bright start as Al Hasani registered the first shot on target after 12 minutes following a strong solo run from the Oman striker as Myanmar goalkeeper Pyaye Phyo Aung was at full stretch to gather the low skidding effort at the second attempt.
But Phyo Aung could do nothing after 28 minutes as a free-kick from Oman goalkeeper Mazin Al Kasbi was flicked on by Abdullah Salim and Ibrahim raced into the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable first time effort high into the roof of the net.
Oman came close to a second in first half stoppage time, but after bursting clear of the Myanmar defence, Salim saw his rising strike beaten away by Phyo Aung.
And Oman twice went close at the start of the second half as Ibrahim rattled the crossbar with a rising strike from the edge of the penalty area with Phyo Aung beaten before the Myanmar custodian had to be alert to push Ali Nahar’s free-kick over the crossbar just before the hour mark.
The home side, though, were given a scare a minute after the hour mark as Oman goalkeeper Mazin Al Kasbi had to be on his toes to turn Kyaw Ko Ko’s shot onto the outside of the post.
But a minute later the home side finally doubled their lead as Ali Al Busaidi’s low drilled cross across the face of goal was turned home at point blank range by Al Hasani.
Oman added a third with 17 minutes remaining as Nahar’s inviting left-wing cross was turned home from close range by substitute Al Hamhami who had only replaced Al Hasani two minutes earlier.
And Oman sealed the win five minutes later as Al Hamhami raced onto Sami Ba Awain’s exquisite pass, and after beating the static Myanmar offside trap, again gave Phyo Aung no chance from inside the penalty area.
“I will not blame the players for the mistakes as four goals is too much. We were not four goals worse than Oman. We played well in the first half with one mistake, but at this level mistakes will be punished,” said Myanmar coach Gerd Zeise.
“Oman have a lot more experience and we must learn from these mistakes. This is a young team and is for the future. This will not be our tournament but we will be ready in the coming years.
“I expected a stronger Oman team. In the first half we gave them some problems as we played with some short passes and pressing.”