The Oman under-19 national football team wrapped up their training camp in Baghdad with a crucial 1-0 win against their Iraqi counterparts in the second match at the Al Shaab International Stadium. This friendly game was part of both teams' preparations for the upcoming West Asian Youth Championship and the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The first match, which took place last Sunday, ended with Iraq securing a 3-1 victory.
The Oman team started the match with great intensity, taking the lead in attacking and posing a threat to the Iraqi goal on multiple occasions. Muhannad al Saeedi had a prime opportunity to score with a powerful shot, but Iraqi goalkeeper Sajad Mohammed made an excellent save.
The game then shifted to midfield, with Iraq having a slight advantage but failing to create any real danger for the Oman team's goal. In the final minutes of the first half, Mustafa Qabil had a promising chance to score but missed, resulting in a 0-0 score at halftime.
In the latter part of the match, there was a surge in excitement and competitiveness as both teams heavily relied on counter-attacks. The Oman national team had a close call with a dangerous shot that almost scored against the Iraqi net, while Iraq's Mohammed Ali Wahid missed the mark with a powerful shot aimed at Oman's post.
As the 80th minute approached, Fahd al Mukhaini initiated a quick Omani attack that led to Ghassan al Masrouri scoring the winning goal with a strong shot that hit the back of the Iraqi net.
Despite Iraq's efforts to equalize in the final minutes, the Oman national team's defense remained solid and secured a 1-0 victory with a clean sheet.
The Oman U19 national team wrapped up its six-day training camp in Baghdad with a significant victory in their final match.
West Asian Youth Championship
The West Asian Football Federation has revealed the dates and locations for the upcoming third edition of the youth championship. The tournament will take place in Taif, Saudi Arabia, at the King Fahd International Stadium and the Okadh Club Stadium from June 25 to July 5.
A total of twelve teams will be competing, with eleven teams representing the West Asia region (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) and Albania as a guest team from outside the region.
The draw for the championship is scheduled for June 18, with further details on team distribution and the official match schedule to follow.
Albania's inclusion in the tournament is a result of a special invitation from the West Asian Football Federation, marking the beginning of a potential collaboration with the Union of European Football Associations.
