Bahrain showed their never-say-die attitude last night in a heart-stopping 2-2 stalemate with continental powerhouses Australia in the third round of Asian qualification for the Fifa World Cup 2026.
Substitute Mahdi Abduljabbar fired in a brace in between two Kusini Yengi goals for the visitors – one each on opposite ends of the game clock – to give the two teams a share of the spoils in the see-saw Group C encounter, played in front of a large crowd at the National Stadium in Riffa.
An uncharacteristic mistake by Bahrain defender Sayed Mahdi Baqer gifted Yengi his opening goal just 38 seconds into the contest, but after the break, Abduljabbar netted twice in as many minutes – first with a wonder goal from around 40 yards out – to give the hosts a stunning lead with just under a quarter-hour remaining in regular time. But in another shocking twist, the Bahrainis conceded a 96th minute equaliser by Yengi, which cost them what would have been an incredible come-from-behind victory.
“We are disappointed with what happened in the last minutes of the game, but congratulations to my boys, they showed character after we went behind early in the first half,” said Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic, who was emotional in his post-game Press conference as he expressed his appreciation for his players’ effort and fighting spirit.
“We then started to play very nice football and we caught them and went up 2-1. We are upset for the ending, but I am so proud of my boys.”
Australia head coach Tony Popovic said: “It was a crazy game. We started very well, and I think we were in control. It was an unbelievable finish from the Bahrain player to make it 1-1, but we showed a lot of character to come back after falling behind, and we come away with a crucial point.”
With the result, Bahrain are now one of four teams on six points apiece in the Group C table, joining Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and China – with everyone having played six matches. Australia improved to seven points to stay in second place, behind only unbeaten Japan, who are on 16 points following their fifth win.
In other divisional clashes yesterday, the Japanese widened the gap at the top with a 3-1 away victory over China in Xiamen Egret Stadium in the Chinese city of Xiamen. Indonesia, on the other hand, stunned Saudi 2-0 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. It was the first win for the Indonesians in this stage, and with Bahrain’s result against Australia, it forged the four-team tie on the standings.
Bahrain resume their qualification campaign next year with two matches in March and their last two in June. Only one of those remaining fixtures will be at home, which will be against Saudi on June 5.
In last night’s clash, the Bahrainis were handed a disastrous start with Yengi’s opener in the very first minute. Bahrain’s Amine Benaddi failed to clear a long pass on the right by Australia’s Hayden Matthews, and Baqer tried to make amends with a back-pass to goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfhallah. But his ball was under-hit, and Yengi pounced on the opportunity, rounding Lutfhallah with his first touch before scoring with his second.
The home team had no real chances in the opening 45 minutes but in the second half came alive and threatened on multiple occasions. Their efforts were rewarded in the 75th with an Abduljabbar stunner from near midfield. The Al Khaldiya Club star caught opposing goalkeeper Mathew Ryan off his line and fired in a high effort that flew above his head and into the net.
Abduljabbar then completed his heroics in the 77th minute, scoring from close range after a headed clearance by Matthews rebounded off the right post. It went straight to his path, and he slammed the ball home.
The nationals were denied the victory, however, as Yengi scored once more six minutes into second-half stoppage time. He fired in from close range after Bahrain’s defenders could not keep the ball away from danger.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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