Salem Al-Dawsari's Two-Assists Spark Saudi Triumph Over Oman in Arab Cup Opener
2 December 2025
Salem Al-Dawsari's tactical awareness and late bursts powered the Saudi squad under French coach Herve Renard to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Oman in the opening game of the 2025 Arab Cup.
Saudi Arabia edged Oman 2-1 on Tuesday at Education City Stadium in Doha, collecting three points in Group C's kickoff match.
Feras Al-Brikan opened the scoring for the Green Falcons in the 54th minute, Oman’s Ghanem Al-Habshi equalized in the 70th, and Saleh Al-Shehri finished off the winner for Saudi in the 77th.
Dawsari, wearing the captain’s armband, starred by laying on both assists as he fed Al-Brikan and Al-Shehri.
This victory puts Saudi three points clear of Oman and behind Morocco on goal difference in the group standings, with Comoros still to play in the day’s later kickoff.
Morocco had started Group C earlier in the day with a 3-1 win over Comoros.
Saudi will face Comoros next, while Oman meet Morocco on Friday.
First Half: Quiet Start
The first half was unusually calm, with neither side carving out clear chances.
Dawsari nearly put Saudi ahead in the sixth minute when Nawaf Boshl sent a cross that Dawsari headed just wide of the right post.
Oman responded in the 16th minute when Ali Al-Bosidi delivered a dangerous cross that narrowly missed the far post.
In the 28th minute, Ghanem Al-Habshi sent a header from a free kick that went wide, and in the 34th, Mohammed Kano tried from distance, forcing a routine save from Oman’s keeper.
In the 44th minute, Issam Al-Sobhi thought he had scored for Oman, only for the goal to be ruled offside by the officials.
Second Half: Fiery Surge
Right after the break, the game lit up as both teams traded chances.
Oman continued to rely on set pieces; a cross in the 48th minute nearly beat Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, who saved with his fingertips.
Saudi responded in the 53rd minute with a swift move: Dawsari sent a back-heel pass to Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, whose shot clipped over the bar.
In the 54th minute, Al-Brikan rose to meet a cross from Dawsari and headed Saudi ahead.
Two minutes later, Oman’s Walid Ahmed tried to level but the ball went wide as he cut inside.
In the 70th, Oman found a leveller when Ghanem Al-Habshi headed home from a corner.
Renard reacted quickly, sending on four changes as Al-Magrashi, Saleh Al-Shehri, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud and Musaad Al-Juweir were introduced to refresh the attack.
With those changes, Saudi reorganized and patient pressure paid off when Dawsari delivered another excellent ball for Al-Shehri to convert on 77' for the winner.
Saudi then pressed for a second, and Dawsari's late cross found Al-Shehri, whose finish sealed the 2-1 victory as time ran out; the Saudis celebrated a hard-earned three points.
Punchline 1: If crosses were recipes, Dawsari brought a Michelin-starred menu tonight—perfect timing, delicious assists, and zero leftovers for the defense.
Punchline 2: Renard shuffled his deck like a magician—four subs and poof, the lead reappears; the only thing missing was the rabbit, and he already had the ball in the net.
