Kawas enter Ibri Cup final

MUSCAT: Kawas Club blanked Aslami 2-0 in the semifinal to enter the final of the Ibri Cup football tournament at Al Motahed Stadium in Ibri.

Kawas will face the winners of the second semifinal between Higar and Al Nahda in the final.

“The boys played a great match against a tough opposition. We hope to achieve the glory by winning the title,” said Kawas’ coach Ali al Rubkhi.

“The team is ready to play a good match and we are in full strength after Omar Al Shumally made a comeback after an injury. The players have implemented the coach’s strategy well,” said Salim al Hinai, assistant coach of Kawas.

“This is the first time we reached the semifinal. The players deserve praise for our team reaching the last four stage after overcoming many strong teams,” Asalmi captain Hamad al Sukaity said..

In the first half, the teams played defensively.

Kawas, however, made some attacks and two of those moves were saved by the Asalmi goalkeeper conceding corners.

Aslami counter-attacks ended at the strong defence of Kawas.

During the last stages of first half, Kawas went ahead by a goal through striker Ahmed al Khalili, who unleashed a powerful shot to defeat Aslami goalkeeper.

In the second half, Aslami players pressed hard for an equaliser and they got a penalty in the 55th minute. The inexperienced Asalmi striker, who took the kick, hit it wide.

Kawas netted their second goal in the 85th minute again after capitalising from a miss pass by an Asalmi player.

— Ahmed Khalifa al Jassasi