MUSCAT: A resilient Oman rallied from a goal deficit to earn a late 1-1 draw against host nation South Korea in their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group B match at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea, on Thursday.
Ali Al Busaidi's goal in the 80th minute equalized Hwang Hee Chan's first-half strike, leaving South Korea dejected while Oman celebrated a well-earned point.
Under the guidance of coach Rashid Jaber, Oman now has seven points from seven matches, while South Korea tops the group with 15 points from the same number of games.
The Red Warriors currently sit fourth in the six-team group, with the top two teams guaranteed qualification, while those finishing third and fourth will enter an additional qualifying round.
South Korea began the match cautiously, opting to maintain possession, but Hwang's promising run towards goal in the 16th minute was thwarted by defender Khalid Al Braiki just outside the box.
Neither team managed a shot on target in the first 30 minutes, as Omani defenders effectively disrupted South Korea's build-up play before they could reach the 18-yard area.
However, South Korea took the lead in the 41st minute when Lee Kang-in, who had just entered the match three minutes earlier, delivered a precise pass to Hwang. Hwang skillfully controlled the ball with his first touch and calmly placed it into the bottom right corner, leaving goalkeeper Ibrahim Mukhaini with no chance.
They had an opportunity to extend their lead when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area five minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. However, captain Son Heung-min's attempt went directly into the arms of Ibrahim.
After halftime, South Korea increased their intensity, with Ibrahim making a crucial save from Oh Se-hun’s downward header from near the six-yard box in the 49th minute. They continued to apply pressure on their opponents, with midfielder Lee and Tottenham Hotspur forward Son playing pivotal roles in creating chances for Lee Tae-seok and Oh in the 72nd and 73rd minutes.
On the other side, Oman struggled to find the finishing touch in their attacks until the 80th minute. A one-two play between Mohsin Al Ghassani and Al Busaidi resulted in a powerful shot from the edge of the box that beat a stationary Jo Hyeon-woo, equalizing the match.
South Korea is set to face Jordan on Tuesday, while Oman will play against the host nation, Kuwait, on March 25.
