Both teams had several chances to win the Group A encounter but it was Kuwait who had the best of them only to be denied by the imposing figure of Bolton Wanderers keeper Ali Al Habsi, voted man of the match after making several crucial saves.

Kuwait were the first to threaten after 11 minutes when Bader Al Mutawa's neat pass sent Ahmed Ajab clear after he beat the offside trap but with only Ali Al Habsi to beat, he fired wide of the right post.

Oman began to get a gradual foothold in the game and went close in the 36th minute when Fawzi Bashir delivered a cross from the right flank which Hassan Rabih got on the end of but sent over the bar.

Kuwait tested Al Habsi again four minutes into the second half when Jarrah Ahmed's cross from the right was met by Ajab but the Oman keeper turned the ball away for a corner.

Substitute Ahmed Manae shot narrowly wide from inside the area for the hosts in the 56th minute, two minutes before Al Habsi was again called into action when he stopped Ajab's effort as the striker bore down on goal.

Kuwait thought that they had opened the scoring three minutes later when Mesaed Nada headed home Mohamad Jarragh's corner but referee Ravshan Irmatov ruled the goal out due to an infringement by Nada.

Oman nearly snatched a late winner eight minutes from the end when Hashim Saleh collected substitute Bader Al Maimani's pass but he was unable to beat keeper Nawaf Al Khaldi.