Overview

• Saudi Arabia secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Oman in the AFC Asian Cup 2023, Group F match, with a late goal by Ali Al-Bulayhi initially ruled out for offside but later confirmed by VAR.
• Despite early lead by Oman, Saudi Arabia demonstrated resilience and orchestrated a comeback starting with a well-executed goal from Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
• Head coach Roberto Mancini excluded three senior players from the squad, accusing them of picking and choosing when they wanted to play for the national team, which has sparked controversy.
• The victory sets a positive tone for Saudi Arabia’s campaign in the prestigious continental competition, making them a team to watch out for in the tournament.
• The ambitious Saudis, who beat eventual champions Argentina in the group phase of the 2022 World Cup, returned to Qatar as one of the favorites for the regional tournament.