Muscat, Sept 19
Oman confirmed their spot in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023 finals after edging Thailand 1-0 on Sunday at Al Saada Sports Complex in Salalah.
Ahad al Mashaikhi goal in the 21st minute delivered a significant triumph and raised Oman’s record to six points to top their qualifying group G. The national team boys ended their qualifying campaign with two victories against the Philippines and Thailand and suffered a loss against Afghanistan 1-0. They scored four goals and conceded one.
The runners-up of the group, Thailand, will have to wait until completion of remaining group qualifying to know if they will advance to the finals as one of the five best second placed. In the same group, Philippines defeated Afghanistan 1-0 to finish third.
The above victory meant, Oman will attend to the AFC U20 Asian Cup finals for the third time and after an absence of many years. Oman team had qualified to the Asian event in 2000 and 2014.
Oman national head coach, David Gordo, said post the final match in the group that the team’s objective was to advance into the finals. “The qualifiers were not easy to progress as we faced tough matches. The players showed top performance and managed to snatch one of the tickets to the finals. Thailand was a strong opponent and we suffered a lot in the match,” the Spanish coach said.
“There were quite delay in the substitutions due to the physical condition of the players. When we ask the players on their physical status they respond that they are well and can play. Our players had full capability and enthusiasm to qualify. I did not feel full satisfaction but I am fully responsible for the team. Work, work and work is the motto for the next period,” he ended.
Nine teams confirmed their places in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023 Finals after finishing top of their qualifying groups on Sunday including: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Oman, Indonesia, Tajikistan and Iran. The other five best second-placed teams are still awaiting their berths to be confirmed following the conclusion of Group H which will be played in October.
