Defending champion Sur began its title defence with a 3-1 win over Al Mudhaibi after a nervy start at the Sur Sports Complex on Sunday in a round-of-32 match of the His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship. 

Four-time winner Sur trailed by an early goal but came back strongly to pump in three goals for a resounding victory to join eight-time champions Dhofar in the last-16 round. Dhofar was an emphatic 4-0 winner over Al Musannah at the Rustaq Sports Complex. Sunday’s matches completed the round-of-32 with the draw of last-16 to be held at the Oman Football Association (OFA) headquarters on Monday afternoon. Other impressive winners on Sunday included Rustaq and Oman. 

While Rustaq routed five-time champions Ahli-Sidab 4-0 at the ROP Stadium, Oman trounced Bausher 4-1 at the Seeb Sports Complex. In the other games, Ibri knocked out former winner Muscat in a penalty shootout 3-1 after the teams failed to break the 1-1 deadlock in the regulation and extra-time and at Buraimi Sports Complex, hosts Al Nahda emerged a 2-1 victor over Al Ittihad in a hard-fought match. 

Earlier on Saturday night, five-time champions Al Nasr edged past Salalah 2-1 in a clash between two local clubs in Salalah while Quriyat drubbed Al Shabab 3-0 at the ROP Stadium. Teams for round-of-16 draw: Fanja, Al Khabourah, Nizwa, Al Arouba, Seeb, Saham, Al Suwaiq, Bahla, Al Nasr, Quriyat, Rustaq, Al Nahda, Ibri, Dhofar, Oman and Sur.