Thursday 10 / October / 2024
Muscat: Oman's head coach Rashid Jaber era began in scintillating style as the Red Warriors produced their best to drub Kuwait 4-0 in their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group B tie at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday.
The win ended Oman's two-match losing runk while Kuwait are still in search of a first victory after having opened their campaign with two draws.
Defeats in their opening two matches saw Jabir replacing Jaroslav Silhavy as head coach with Oman starting on the front foot against their West Asian rivals.
Their early pressure resulted in a couple of chances, which Ibrahim Al Mukhaini did well to repel, but the Kuwait goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Oman's opening goal in the 17th minute.
A nice exchange of passes saw a surging Abdul Rahman Al Mushaifri receiving the ball from Salaah Al Yahyaei, with the forward's low shot hitting the post before settling in the back of the net.
The goal didn't jolt Kuwait into action, and they paid the price in the 30th minute with Muhsen Al Ghassani planting his header off Jameel Al Yahmadi's cross out of the fully stretched Al Mukhaini's reach.
Having failed to register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes, Kuwait started the second half on a more menacing mode with Yousef Al Sulaiman just missing his effort from outside the box.
Sami Al Sanea and Al Sulaiman then had a couple of chances, which they failed to get on target, and Kuwait paid a heavy price in the 58th minute with Al Mushaifri netting his second of the evening.
Woeful Kuwaiti defending allowed Amjad Al Harthi to send his cross into the six-yard box and Al Mushaifri had time and space to control the ball before burying it in the back of the net.
With Kuwait deflated, Oman had time for one more through Abdullah Fawaz, who burst into the box to slot home past Al Mukhaini to cap the resounding win.
Next up for Oman are Jordan on Tuesday while Kuwait play Palestine.
[With inputs from the-afc.com]
