FATORDA: Arshad Al Alawi scored a brace as Oman opened their AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 Group C account with a 3-0 win over Malaysia in Group C on Friday.
Oman led 1-0 at the break. Yousuf Al Malki added another from the spot with half an hour remaining before Arshad Al Alawi’s second of the night 12 minutes from time wrapped up the victory as Oman moved to the top of the standings ahead of Iraq, who defeated Korea Republic 2-1 in Friday’s earlier Group C encounter.
The Gulf nation then took a deserved lead in the 20th minute after Muatasim Al Bakri was upended in the box by Muhammad A’sif and Arshad Al Alawi confidently dispatched the ensuing penalty to goalkeeper Firdaus Imran’s right.
Malaysia came back into the game and Muhammad Izreen was handed a golden opportunity on the half hour mark, only to shoot wide from close in after ‘keeper Yousuf Al Sheyadi parried out Zainul Arifin’s effort from distance.
Yaqoub Al Sabahi’s side should have doubled their advantage seven minutes after the restart when Mohammed Al Alawi’s low cross was diverted over the crossbar by Al Zaabi from just a few yards when it looked easier to score.
But with Oman only a goal up Malaysia still had a fighting chance of getting something from a match in which they had rarely looked a goalscoring threat.
Oman were awarded another penalty. This time Al Malki was given the responsibility only to see his spot kick well blocked by Imran, but the defender was on hand to fire home the rebound and put his side on a commanding position.
The result was then put beyond doubt on 78 minutes when Arshad Al Alawi spun well 25 yards from goal before racing through and drilling low into the bottom left corner for his double.
