Oman reach Gulf Cup semis after drawing of lots edges out Iraq

Oman are into the Gulf Cup semi-finals after winning football's strangest tie-breaker. Their name was pulled ahead of Iraq in a drawing of lots, where progress is decided by chance rather than play.

The draw followed a dramatic finish to Group A on 29 September. Oman beat Kuwait 3-1 to reach four points, while hosts Saudi Arabia beat Iraq 2-0 at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah to finish top of the group with nine points. Gulf News That left Oman and Iraq locked on four points, with nothing to separate them and one place in the last four up for grabs at Gulf 27, the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.

Tournament organisers said the draw was the final tie-breaker after the selection criteria stipulated in the regulations had been applied. BBC Officials worked through head-to-head results, goal difference and goals scored, then disciplinary card points, a countback based on yellow and red cards. Oman and Iraq were still level after the final count.

The lots were drawn by the Gulf Football Association's Competitions Committee after the two final group games had ended. They were drawn in the presence of representatives of the concerned authorities, closing a night when the maths refused to give an answer.

There was one painful twist in the detail. Musab Al-Shaqsy scored Oman's third goal late against Kuwait and was yellow-carded for taking his top off during the celebration. In a group that went down to discipline, that booking mattered. Even so, it did not break the deadlock.

Decisions by lot are rare, but this is not a first. At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea went through to the quarter-finals at Mali's expense the same way after the teams finished level. At the 1990 World Cup, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland needed lots to decide second and third place, even though both were already sure of going through.

That 1990 draw shaped the knockout rounds. Ireland took second place and a tie against Romania. The Netherlands finished third and met eventual winners West Germany. At the 1970 World Cup, lots were also used to name the Soviet Union as winners of Group One ahead of Mexico.

The method has now disappeared from football's biggest stage. Drawing of lots remained the World Cup's final tie-breaker until after the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when it was replaced by teams' positions in the FIFA world rankings.

What makes this stand out is the helplessness of it. Players can practise penalties. They cannot practise this. For Oman, there is relief and a semi-final to prepare for. For Iraq, there is the long trip home knowing nothing more on the pitch could have changed it.