New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS): Thirtysixth-ranked Oman men's team beat 70th-ranked Fiji 7-3 in a hard fought match on the seventh and last day of the Hockey World League Round 2 here Sunday.
Fiji played an attacking game from the start and kept the Omani defenders busy in the first half.
Fiji opened the account with captain Hector Smith's goal in the seconed minute. Within seconds, Oman captain Samir Haliyas Al Shibli equalised the score at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Fijians fought back as James Saqacala (4th min) and Leevan Dutta (14th min) scored two back-to-back goals to take the lead.
Before half time, Oman's Ahmed Sabeel Al Balushi scored the second goal for his team in the 22nd minute.
Oman came back in the second half strongly and scored thrice through Mahmood Salim Al Hasani (40th), Ahmed Sabeel Al Balushi (42nd) and Mohamed Hubais Al Shar (48th min) to dominate the match.
In the 68th minute, Oman got their sixth goal through an own goal. In the next minute, skipper Samir Haliyas Al Shibli scored again and took the score to 7-3.
Fiji could not come back in the match and lost their last league match. Al Shibli was adjudged player of the match for his two goals and leading the team to victory.
In the first women's match of the day, 33rd-ranked Kazakhstan thrashed 59th-ranked Fiji 4-0 in Round 2.
Kazakhstan skipper Natalya Gataulina opened the account in the fifth minute through a penalty and kept the domination.
The No.10 jersey holder Vera Domashneva scored two goals in both halves in the 10th and 48th minutes.
Gulnara Imangaliyeva scored the fourth goal in 63rd minute and maintained the score-line till the final whistle.
Fijian girls gave some tough time to their opponents but their poor ball possession cost them the match.
Domashneva was adjudged player of the match for her two goals.