Surprising draw between Iraq and Oman to determine who advances to Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals

Attention turns to the Intercontinental Hotel in Jeddah, where the draw will soon take place to determine the team qualifying for the semi-finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup, between Iraq and Oman. This is a rare occurrence after both teams were tied in all decisive criteria.

The draw was resorted to following the results of the last round of the group stage, after the Oman national team secured a 3-1 victory over Kuwait, while the Iraq national team lost to Saudi Arabia by two goals to nil.

With these results, Iraq and Oman are equal on points, with each team having 4 points. Both have scored 4 goals and conceded 5 goals, resulting in an equal goal difference between the two.

Oman and Iraq were also equal in the number of 'fair play' cards, as Musab Al-Qashti, who scored Oman’s third goal, received a yellow card for taking off his shirt in celebration.

It was reported inside Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium that the Oman national team had secured qualification to the semi-finals, before the situation was clarified and it was confirmed that Iraq and Oman are tied on all tiebreaker criteria, and thus the draw will determine which team officially qualifies.

The draw is expected to determine the identity of the team qualifying for the semi-finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup in the coming minutes, in an exciting scene after it was impossible to separate the two teams on the pitch or through tiebreaker criteria.