Oman Snatch World Cup Qualifying Draw Late on in South Korea

South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
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Oman Snatch World Cup Qualifying Draw Late on in South Korea

South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP

South Korea conceded a goal with 10 minutes left as Oman stunned Son Heung-min's side to snatch a precious 1-1 away draw in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

The hosts looked set for all three points after Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan put them ahead in the first half with a clinical finish.

But Ali Al Busaidi struck from just outside the box on 80 minutes to stun most of the crowd at Goyang Stadium, AFP reported.

South Korea still lead Asian qualifying Group B and are in a strong position to join Japan, the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, in North America.

They face Asian Cup finalists Jordan on Tuesday at home.

South Korea took the lead four minutes before the break when Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in picked out Hwang with a superb threaded through ball.

Hwang took one touch with his right foot to set himself up and with his left foot rifled the ball past goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini into the bottom opposite corner.

Skipper and talisman Son, who has struggled for form and fitness this season with an underwhelming Tottenham side, tried his luck from distance in first-half injury time.

The 32-year-old threatened again shortly after the break as Hong Myung-bo's team went in search of a second goal.

Oman rarely threatened until up popped Busaidi with a left-footed strike that wrong-footed goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

South Korea have 15 points, with Iraq second in the group on 11 but having played a game less.

Jordan are third on nine with Oman fourth on seven points, with three games left to play.

The top two are guaranteed to qualify, with teams finishing third and fourth going into a further qualifying round.



Goffin Stuns Alcaraz, Djokovic Makes Winning Miami Return

David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Goffin Stuns Alcaraz, Djokovic Makes Winning Miami Return

David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz fell 5-7 6-4 6-3 to Belgian David Goffin in the Miami Open second round on Friday while Novak Djokovic tied Rafa Nadal for most ATP Masters 1000 match wins and Russia's Mirra Andreeva took another step toward a "Sunshine Double".

Goffin led the second seed by a break in each of the three sets and secured the victory on his second match point when a sliding Alcaraz was unable to retrieve a forehand the Belgian ripped into the corner.

Up next for Goffin is Brandon Nakashima, a 6-4 4-6 6-3 winner over Roberto Carballes Baena.

Six-times champion Djokovic made his long-awaited Miami Open return and defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-0 7-6(1) to reach the third round.

It marked Djokovic's first Miami appearance since 2019 and the Serbian fourth seed's victory was his 410th ATP Masters 1000 match win, tying him with Rafa Nadal atop the all-time list.

"I wanted to make a statement to myself and to others, as well, that I'm still able to play on a high level," Djokovic told reporters.

"I lost (my last) two tournaments in my first rounds, so I really was eager to get the win in the first match in Miami Open."

It was all one-way traffic in the opening set as Djokovic showcased his superior shotmaking from the baseline along with a lethal service game to make a perfect start and needed just 27 minutes to wrap up the opening set.

But Hijikata refused to back down and his confidence grew during a tightly-contested second set where neither player could manage a break, but Djokovic took over in the tiebreak where he won the final six points.

Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Miami champion who arrived this year fresh off a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals, crashed out at the first hurdle as he fell 6-2 6-3 to Spaniard Jaume Munar.

Former Miami finalists Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov both advanced while Australian Kyrgios, who this week earned his first win since 2022, fell 7-6(3) 6-0 to Karen Khachanov.

On the women's side, Andreeva, making her Miami Open debut fresh off winning the first leg of the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells, was a 6-0 6-2 winner over Veronika Kudermetova and will next face Doha champion Amanda Anisimova.

Polish second seed Iga Swiatek beat Caroline Garcia for the second time in as many tournaments with a 6-2 7-5 victory that sets up a third-round clash with Belgian Elise Mertens, a 6-4 6-1 winner over American Peyton Stearns.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys advanced with a 6-3 6-3 win over Armenia's Elina Avanesyan to set up a third round clash with Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala, who beat Latvian 25th seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(2) 7-5.

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu also advanced with a 7-6(6) 2-6 7-6(3) win over Emma Navarro. Among the other women advancing were Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa and Czech 15th seed Karolina Muchova.