Saudi Arabia vs Oman 2-1: AFC Asian Cup 2023 football – as it happened
All the updates as Saudi Arabia beat Oman 2-1 in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at Khalifa International Stadium.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Saudi Arabia beat Oman 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday, January 16, 2024:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Saudi Arabia beat Oman 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday, January 16, 2024:
- Saudi Arabia beat Oman 2-1 open their campaign at the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
- The Group F match at Khalifa International Stadium was a sea of green with thunderous support for the Saudi team.
- Ali Al Bulayhi headed a winner six minutes into stoppage time to turn the game on its head.
- Thailand beat Kyrgyzstan 3-0 earlier in the day in the same group.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye for now
What a game and what a finish.
So near an upset on the ground where Saudi Arabia beat Argentina at the World Cup in 2022.
Oman were spirited but denied at the very last.
The live coverage continues in two hours with build-up to New Zealand and Pakistan in their third T20 of the series.
There will also be live coverage of India against Afghanistan in their final T20 of the series on Wednesday – India’s final T20 international before the World Cup begins in June.
Then on Thursday, it’s a bumper day of live pages as we bring you our first match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when hosts Ivory Coast take on Nigeria.
We’ll also bring you Egypt against Ghana and more Asian Cup coverage as well when Palestine play UAE.
That’s it from this live page, though. Do join us back for more live coverage when you can.
From me, Kevin Hand, it’s goodbye for now.
A large turnout at Khalifa International Stadium during the Saudi Arabia and Oman match
🇸🇦🆚🇴🇲#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/9EqveKjEcs
— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 16, 2024
The dominant Saudi stats
Saudi Arabia dominated the possession with a 65-35 share.
They also had 12 efforts on goal but only four on target – and one of those came very deep in stoppage time to win the game.
Oman nearly held out, but their penalty was one of only two shots on target, with four efforts in total, in the entire game.
Roberto Mancini will want more creativity from his side moving forward, but Oman walk away with heads held high and all to play for.
That will feel like a crushing defeat in the immediacy of the game, through.
FT | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 2️⃣-1️⃣ Oman 🇴🇲
Heartbreak for Oman as Saudi Arabia snatch a very late goal to collect all 3 points!#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #KSAvOMA pic.twitter.com/WqlKe3TCnK
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 16, 2024
What a finish and what an atmosphere
The atmosphere built throughout that half as the Saudi Arabia pressure grew.
It was an incredible noise inside the Khalifa International Stadium. So many voices all in unison.
The team didn’t let the fans down.
An upset was on the cards for so long but Saudi Arabia proved their worth with that come back.
Will we see anything like that again in the whole tournament?
⚽ GOAL | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 2️⃣-1️⃣ Oman 🇴🇲
Drama. Ali Al Bulayhi heads in the winner for the Green Falcons⚡️
Watch Live 📺 https://t.co/nJZ0pcVqz1#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #KSAvOMA pic.twitter.com/piZa1jpsEC
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 16, 2024
What a comeback
That was a stunning second-half display from Saudi Arabia and what a finish.
Despite the confusion and chaos, Al Bulayhi was clearly onside for the goal.
Who knows why that took VAR so long to confirm the goal.
A fantastic run from Radif won the corner, which mustn’t be forgotten.
There were three more minutes after play resumed but Oman had pulled off all their attacking players and, much like the rest of the half, had no way out.
Full-time
Saudi Arabia have won it!
Full time: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
Play resumes at last
It’s taken forever. Goodness knows how long is left.
90+10 minutes: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
Utter chaos
Oman thought it was ruled out and took the goal kick.
The ref called play back to inform them the goal was given and he was pointing to the centre circle.
90+9 minutes: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
GOAL!
VAR give Saudi Arabia the goal!
90+7 minutes: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
Goal ruled out – for now!
What a run by Radif. He beat so many to burst into the box and win the corner.
The set piece is headed home by Al Bulayhi.
The offside flag goes up but VAR are checking it.
90+6 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Oman break
For the first time in the half, Oman break clear in numbers. But as the move comes to nothing, it’s a dash to get back.
They do, but only just. Back to the Saudi pressure.
90+3 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Eight minutes of stoppage time
Time for a winner still.
90 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Saudi Arabia go close
Abdulhamid heads a deep ball back across goal.
Was his trying to find Radif or go for goal? It lands between the post and the player to go out for a goal kick.
89 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Oman injury
Tameem is down on the far side of the pitch and looks in a lot of pain.
Al Busaidi is quickly called on to replace him.
87 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Double change off Saudi Arabia
Salem and Kanno come off for Fersa and Faisal.
The corner is punched clear by Ibrahim and Oman try to get clear but there’s no one in attack to target.
85 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Saudi shut out by Fahmi
Al Dawsari’s cross is cut out at the near post and corner for Saudi Arabia.
Only just cut out or that would have been the lead, surely.
82 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
GOAL!
Abdulrahman Ghareeb runs past three or four Oman defenders to break into the box and opens his body to side-foot the equaliser.
Extraordinary introduction.
78 minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Oman bring on another defender
Fahmi comes on for Salaah as Oman replace another striker with a defender.
78 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Salaah scintilates again
The forward makes a solo run close to the line on the right and then bursts infield himself from the corner flag to unleash a shot from a tight angle.
The keeper gets a fingertip on it. Would it have crept under the bar?
It probably would have hit the bar at least.
Two Saudi changes as Al Khaibari and Al Sheri come off for Mukhtar and Ghareeb.
74 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Double change for Oman
Abdullah Fawaz and Muhsen Al Ghassani come off.
Tameem Al Balushi and Abdul Rahman Al Mushaifri come on.
Two younger players are sent on as fresher legs to keep chasing the ball in defence under this Saudi pressure.
Possession is just over 60-40 in Saudi’s favour, but it feels far more.
72 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Two great crosses
One at either end.
Al-Alawi hooks the ball clear at the last as a deep cross comes in from the left for Saudi Arabia.
Then Oman burst to the other end and Jameel slides a low ball across the six-yard (five-metre) box but no one is there to tap it in.
69 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Double chance for Oman
First Mataz Saleh receives a layoff from Salaah Al Yahyaei, but it drives straight at the keeper from 22 yards out as he runs onto the pass.
Then Salaah goes himself as he bursts down the right and hits the ball with the outside of his boot and the shot keeps swerving wide.
66 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Sami’s day is done
Sami Al-Najei was bright in the match but missed the big chance of the match from open play.
Off he comes for Abdullah Radif.
63 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Saleh swoops inside
The Oman forward finds a way into the box from the left wing but can’t find the room at the last for a shot or cross.
A warning sign though.
61 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
The chances are mounting
Saudi Arabia are dominant in the second period.
The switch to the back five may be getting the blocks in for Oman, but they can’t get out of their own half.
59 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman
Salaah volleys over
A lofted ball into the box is controlled by Salaah, who takes one touch and hits the ball on the volley.
He turns sharply to do so, but can’t keep the effort down and it sails over.
55 minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Oman