Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Muscat: Hatem Khamis Al Hamhami hit a hat-trick as Group A hosts Oman recorded a 5-0 defeat of the Maldives on Sunday as the Gulf Sultanate picked up their second win of the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers.
Omar Al Malki set Oman on the road to another Group A win following Friday’s 4-0 defeat of Lebanon when he breached the Maldives defence with just seven minute at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex played before goalkeeper Jazlaan Mohmed was beaten twice in the space of four minutes by Al Hamhami, who scored the first two goals of his treble in the 20th and 24th minutes.
Vietnamese referee Vo Minh Tri presented Oman with the chance to extend their lead when he awarded a penalty 11 minutes into the second half and Al Hamhami gratefully accepted the opportunity to complete his hat-trick when he successfully converted the 56th minute spot-kick.
Substitute Ashaad Al Abdulsalam, who came on for the second half in place of Hatem Sultan Al Rushadi, made it 5-0 in the 72nd minute to cap the triumph that took Oman’s points tally to seven after three matches, with only Tuesday’s game with 2013 AFC U-22 Championship winners Iraq left to play.