(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Asian champion Oman went down 2-4 to Italy to suffer its second successive loss in Group B at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Espinho Portugal on Saturday.
The win helped Italy inch closer to sealing a spot in the quarterfinals.
Switzerland's 4-3 win over Costa Rica late on Saturday ended Oman's hopes of making it to the next round. Both Italy and Switzerland have six points from two games with the former on top of the group on better goal-difference.
Oman and Costa Rica have yet to open their account.
Oman had never met Italy before but on Saturday the sultanate side rode the support from a vocal local crowd rooting for the underdog to take the lead through Yahya al Araimi.
Oman's lead however lasted only four minutes as two quick goals in a 25-second span allowed the third-placed finisher in Europe to stay 2-1 ahead.
Emmanuele Zurlo and Simone Marinai saw the tide turn for Italy. Gabriele Gori added to his hat-trick in the 6-1 rout of Costa Rica to gain control and despite Khalid al Oraimi giving Oman hope with the team's second strike Zurlo's overhead kick sealed an unassailable two-goal lead for the Italians.
On Thursday Oman featuring in only its second World Cup after the 2011 edition in Ravenna Italy paid dearly for its lapses in its opener against Switzerland.
Oman lost 2-5 but not before forcing the Swiss to labour for the win. The match began even with both sides slotting early goals. Swiss striker Noel Ott then slammed in a brace in the first period that gave the European team a lead that it would eventually hold on to.
Oman appeared to have a chance of clawing back into the game when it reduced the margin to trail 2-4 at one stage. But Ott completed his hat-trick to take the contest beyond Oman's reach.
Oman next plays Costa Rica in its last league game on Monday. The match kicks off at 4pm Oman time.
Other results:
Group A: Senegal 6 Portugal 5 Japan 4 Argentina 3.
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