Saudi Arabia Secures Dramatic Victory Over Oman in AFC Asian Cup

Late Goal by Ali Al-Bulayhi Confirmed by VAR Seals Win Amid Controversy Over Squad Selection

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.