After a quiet opening quarter of an hour in the Omani capital, Branko Ivankovic’s side pulled into the lead when centre-back Khalid Al Braiki headed a Jameel Al Yahmadi free-kick back across the goal for Al Malki to guide home in the 17th minute.

 

Opportunities continued to be at a premium, but the home side came close to doubling their lead at the half hour mark when Al Yahmadi’s low drive from the edge of the box was kept out by a save from Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Pan Wen-chieh.

Al Malki volleyed over from 12 yards out in the 40th minute before Pan made a diving save to deny Issam Al Sabhi’s effort from distance. However, a mistake from the Tainan City shot-stopper from the resulting corner gave Oman a 2-0 lead at the interval.

 

Pan tried to punch away the inswinging corner delivered by Oman right-back Al Kaabi, but it slipped through his gloves into the goal to give the hosts a comfortable cushion ahead of the second half.

Pan was once again called into action five minutes after the restart when Oman’s Harib Al Saadi tested his luck with a shot from 40 yards out before Ange Kouame went close for Gary White’s Chinese Taipei with a shot that landed on the roof of the goal a few minutes later.

 

Substitute Saleh ran onto a Jameel Al Yahmadi pass and finished past Pan in second-half injury time to seal the 3-0 win for Oman who are looking to reach the third round for the second time running.