Oman continued their winning spree in the Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers with a 3-2 win over Sri Lanka at the Moulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Oman took the lead in the 12th minute though their second penalty corner with Rajab Basim Khatar hitt the board after Al Nofli Younis Ghabish Salmeen’s push and Khalfan Qasim Moosa’s stop ( 1-0).
Sri Lanka equalized in the 28th minute as Lahiru Gihan Weerasooriya produced a brilliant stick work in the right flank and beat onrushing Omani goalie Fahad Khamis Salmeen with an angular hit (1-1)
Oman retained their lead in the 45th minute through their in-form forward Mahmood Ashoor Ramadhan who dragged a penalty corner into the left hand post of Sri Lankan goalie Darsana Ratnasiri (2-1).
Ramadhan, the tall forward repeated act in the 50thminute with another efficient drag off a penalty corner (3-1). He was also adjudged as the Man of the Match.
Sri Lanka tried hard and Lahiru Gihan Weersooriya again struck in the 63rd minute as his timely deflection on a Tharanga Gunawardana hit crashed into the post (3-2).
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei bounced back to the winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Qatar in the day’s other match at the same venue.
Taipei who lost to Oman 1-0 in their opening match went ahead in the 13th minute as Liu Chin-Kun made his way through the Qatar defence with a solo effort and scored the goal with a soft push past Qatari goalie Ali Shahzad (1-0).
Taipei doubled their lead in the 32nd minute with a superb effort of Lin Tse-Yen. Lin flicked a cracking hit of Lin Cheng-Yan at the roof of the Qatari post with the others yet to react (2-0).
Three minutes after the resumption Qatar reduced the margin with a field goal of Stevenson Savio (2-1).
Liu Chin Kun was adjudged as the Man of the Match.
