GOA: Oman edged closer to the last eight of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 after securing a 0-0 draw with the Korea Republic in Group C on Monday.

Yousuf Al Malki struck the woodwork early on at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as two-time champions Oman had the better of a goalless opening 45 minutes.

The East Asians put in an improved performance in the second half of few chances with the goalkeepers rarely tested as Oman returned to the top of the standings on goal difference while the 2014 runners-up picked up their first point of the continental campaign.

Oman will now advance as Group C winners if they avoid defeat against second-placed Iraq on Thursday while the Korea Republic must beat Malaysia and hope the group’s other clash does not end level if they are to have any chance of progression.

Oman started confidently and were just inches away from going in front on 10 minutes when Al Malki’s inswinging free-kick from 40 yards caught goalkeeper Park Ji-min off guard only to rebound back off the crossbar.

The Gulf nation continued in the ascendancy and Arshad Al Alawi drilled just wide of the Korea Republic left a post on 17 minutes.

Yaqoub Al Sabahi’s team then should have opened the scoring midway through the half with Al Alawi, scorer of two goals in his side’s 3-0 opening-day victory over Malaysia, involved once more.

The midfielder’s sweetly struck effort from outside the penalty area was too hot to handle for Park Ji-min but when the ball fell kindly to Muatasim Al Bakri just a few yards from goal the forward shot over when it looked easier to score.

The young Taeguk Warriors finally had their first effort of note five minutes after the restart when Jeong Chan-young’s floated free-kick from the right forced a diving Yousuf Al Sheyadi to push to safety.

The East Asians were enjoying more of the possession but Oman had another chance on 58 minutes as Naji Al Gheilani broke forward before seeing his effort from inside the left side of the penalty area blocked by Park Ji-min.

Midway through the half Thamir Al Zaabi cut inside from the left and fired narrowly over as the tie remained firmly in the balance.

But as the game moved towards the final 20 minutes neither side looked like breaking the deadlock with a draw being enough to ensure both went into their final group outings with a fighting chance of reaching the knockout phase.

Park Jeong-in had the final chance of an uneventful encounter when he curled the wrong side of Al Sheyadi’s right post in added time to mean Group C will go to the wire.

(Picture & Report Courtesy: www.the-afc.com)