Doha, Qatar – Oman showed grit and resilience, fighting back after falling behind to Saudi Arabia before ultimately slipping to a narrow defeat in a tight, hard-fought encounter in the FIFA Arab Cup at Education City stadium on Tuesday.

After a cautious opening spell with few chances, it was the Green Falcons who struck first with a goal created by Al Hilal’s Nasser and Salem al Dawsari. The former slipped a delightful ball to release the latter who sat up a cross that Feras al Brikan, having split a pair of Omani defenders, met with a header that rocketed past Ibrahim al Mukhaini.

A quarter of an hour later Oman drew level, with the goal set up by one central defender and finished by another. Thani al Rushaidi nodded a deep corner back across the face of the goal for Ghanim al Habashi to head home.

But Saudi Arabia got the winner and all three points as a second Al Dawsari assist saw substitute Saleh al Shehri volley home from the top of the six-yard box to seal the late win.

Earlier, a pair of early strikes helped Morocco to a 3-1 win over FIFA Arab Cup debutants Comoros, while Egypt drew with Kuwait

It took a pair of early corners and less than a quarter-of-an-hour for Morocco to assert themselves at the Khalifa International Stadium. Soufiane Bouftini rose to meet the first with a header while a deflected Tarik Tissoudali strike from the second had debutants Comoros rocking.

A diving Karim El Berkaoui header from a deep cross in first-half stoppage time extended the Moroccan advantage but as Comoros showed in their play-off win against Yemen they are never fully down and out.

The tournament debutants pulled one back via a Mohamed Boulacsout own goal just shy of the hour but that was as close as they came. Morocco saw a late penalty shout ruled out after a VAR review as they made an impressive start.

In the second match of the day, Mohamed Afsha converted a last-gasp penalty as Egypt fought back to secure a dramatic draw against ten-man Kuwait, who came agonisingly close to a memorable victory.

The Pharaohs, who are without a number of first-choice players for the regional showpiece, missed a spot kick midway through the opening half when Abdulwahab Alawadhi fouled Eslam Eissa in the Kuwait area but Egypt captain Amro Elsoulia struck the resulting penalty wide of the post.

Kuwait continued to repel Egypt’s attacking play and broke the deadlock when Fahad Al Hajeri rose high into the air to head in a Mohammad Daham corner with a powerful effort. Daham then should have sealed the victory ten minutes from time but his chip was well-blocked by the onrushing Mohamed Bassam.

There was late drama when Kuwait goalkeeper Soud Al Houshan was sent off seven minutes from time after rushing off his line to bring down Marwan Hamdy in his area. Afsha kept his nerve and converted from the spot past substitute keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafour to secure an unexpected point for Egypt.