MUSCAT, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- Omani football team was gifted the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup for its first time Saturday evening, after a long struggle with Saudi Arabia that stretched through extra-time up until a penalty shoot-out.
Despite the win by penalty kicks, the Omani team was the one to shine in both halves of the fixture held at Sultan Qaboos Stadium in the Omani capital, Muscat, which kept Saudi keeper Walid Abdullah busy for most of the game.
Six scored penalty kicks by Oman was all it took, met with five scored goals and a lost shot by Saudi Arabia's Taysir Al-Jassim, afterwhich Omani fans were sent into a frenzy for the first time in their nation's history.
Despite the Saudi loss, best player of the tournament went to Majid Al-Marshady who after a well-defended presence, went limping off close to the end of the second half.
Top goalscorer went to Omani player Hassan Rabeea while English Premier League outfit Bolton Wanderer's Omani keeper Ali Al-Habsi took best goalkeeper.
Oman had lost out in the last two finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup, defeated 1-0 by the United Arab Emirates and failing to Qatar by penalty kicks, while Saudi Arabia has won the title three times in 2004, 2003 and 1994. (end) bsu.sd KUNA 172156 Jan 09NNNN