DOHA — In an exhilarating AFC Asian Cup match, Saudi Arabia staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Oman 2-1 on Tuesday. The game was marked by a significant twist involving the VAR system, which saw a last-minute winning goal initially disallowed for Saudi Arabia, only to be reversed and awarded later. The match was held as part of the first round of Group F match at Khalifa International Stadium. Oman took the lead early in the match and maintained it for over an hour, challenging the Saudis with a defensive strategy and looking for opportunities to counter-attack. The strategy paid off in the 14th minute when defender Hassan Tambakti's foul inside the box led to a penalty, converted by Salah Al Yahyaei, putting Oman ahead. Despite dominating possession, Saudi Arabia struggled to find an equalizer. Their efforts were thwarted by Oman's compact defense and some near-miss opportunities. Notably, an own goal was narrowly avoided thanks to the reflexes of Oman's goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini. The game's dynamics changed in the final 15 minutes. Saudi Arabia's coach Roberto Mancini brought on winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who made an immediate impact. Ghareeb's skillful play in the 78th minute saw him weave past three defenders and score, bringing the match to a 1-1 tie. The climax came in the sixth minute of added time. A corner kick by Ghareeb was met by Ali Lajami, who assisted center-back Ali Al Bulayhi to head the ball into the net, completing Saudi Arabia's comeback. Oman will now focus on their next match against Thailand, while Saudi Arabia prepares to face the Kyrgyz Republic.
