Oman reach Gulf Cup 27 semi-finals after dramatic draw with Iraq

Oman reached the semi-finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup (Gulf 27) after a draw was required to separate them from Iraq, prompting the team to celebrate qualification for the second time in the tournament.

The Gulf Cup Football Federation held the draw at a hotel in Jeddah to determine the second semi-finalist from Group One after Oman and Iraq finished level on every applicable measure.

Oman were selected to progress and will join Saudi Arabia in the last four. Saudi Arabia topped the group with a perfect record of nine points.

Footage published by Abu Dhabi Sports showed the moment the Oman squad learned they had gone through. The scenes at the team’s base in Jeddah included widespread celebrations as the players reacted to the result of the draw.

It was the second time Oman’s players had celebrated believing they had secured a semi-final place.

They had previously marked their supposed qualification at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah after beating Kuwait 3-1 in their final group match.

At that stage, the Oman players thought their superior disciplinary record had put them ahead of Iraq under the fair-play rules. However, further calculations confirmed that the two teams were level in every relevant category, meaning the tie had to be settled by drawing lots.

Both sides finished with four points and had drawn their opening match 1-1. They each scored four goals and conceded five, while both received eight yellow cards. Neither team was shown a red card.

With no statistical difference remaining between the teams, Oman won the draw and claimed the second qualification position behind Saudi Arabia.

Abu Dhabi Sports shared a video from Oman’s accommodation showing the announcement of the result and the players’ reaction to an unusual outcome in the Gulf tournament.