South Korea vs Oman

Goyang Stadium sets the stage for a lopsided FIFA World Cup qualifier between Group B pacesetters South Korea and out-of-sorts Oman.

South Korea’s qualifying campaign was off to an underwhelming start as Palestine held them to a 0-0 draw on this soil. However, they had since won four consecutive Group B fixtures via a combined score of 11-4 before Palestine stole them two points again last time out (1-1). Despite entering this round as the only team in this section yet to lose in the ongoing qualifying cycle, the Taegeuk Warriors can’t afford to rest on their laurels as they boast a three-point lead on second-placed Iraq. Eager to avoid late complications, South Korea can draw confidence from beating Oman in three consecutive H2Hs, including a 3-1 win in September’s reverse fixture.

On the other hand, Oman’s form at the start of the new calendar year has been far from impressive (D1, L1), casting further doubt on their bid to haul back a five-point deficit on the coveted second place. A lack of consistency has plagued Oman’s hopes of securing a first-ever appearance at the World Cup finals. Indeed, they’ve alternated between losing (3) and winning (2) across their last five qualifiers, with three matches (won/lost) in this sequence seeing the winner on the day keep a clean sheet. Furthermore, Rashid Jaber’s men have lost both away qualifiers in this group without scoring, capitulating inside the opening 30 minutes on each occasion.