Bahrain’s Road to Recovery: A Must-Win Clash Against Indonesia

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Shaking Off Japan’s Defeat

Bahrain will face Indonesia tomorrow in a match that feels like a crossroads for both teams. After a humbling 5-0 defeat to Japan, Bahrain will be desperate to shake off that performance and reignite their World Cup qualifying campaign. The memories of their gritty 1-0 win away against Australia aren’t too distant, and they’ll need to tap into that resilience if they hope to get back on track.

Key Players

For Bahrain, sitting with just three points from two matches, there’s no room for another setback. Defender Sayed Baqer has been a key figure for the team, contributing two goals in five matches, while Mohamed Marhoon, who has scored once and set up two others, will need to provide stability in the midfield. Bahrain's strength has typically come from their defensive organization, but they'll need to be more clinical going forward if they want to shake off the inconsistencies that have plagued them.

Full Squad List:

• Ibrahim Lutfallah
• Sayed Mohamed Jaffar
• Waleed Al Hayam
• Ammar Mohammed
• Ali Haram
• Abbas Al Isa
• Jassim Al Shaya
• Hamad Shamsan
• Haza’a Ali
• Ebrahim Al Khattal
• Hussein Abdulkarim
• Komail Al Aswad
• Mahdi Abduljabbar
• Sayed Dhiya Saeed
• Ali Madan
• Sayed Hashim Isa
• Mohamed Marhoon
• Mahdi Abduljalil
• Ahmed Nebil
• Ali Madan
• Ahmed Mubarak

Indonesia’s Threat

Indonesia, meanwhile, comes into this match winless, drawing both of their games. But they’re not without danger. Ramadhan Sananta has been the standout, with four goals in five matches, and Rizky Ridho has shown his ability to pop up with goals from defense. They’ll feel they can unsettle Bahrain, especially after seeing how Japan picked them apart.

Eyes On The Prize

The team also entered a focused training camp at the Wyndham Grand Manama Hotel in preparation for the match. This internal camp was designed to enhance the players’ fitness, tactics, and team cohesion under Hėlio Sousa and the coaching staff. 

History on Bahrain’s side

Historically, Bahrain has had Indonesia’s number, including an infamous 10-0 win in 2012 World Cup qualifiers. But this is a different Indonesia side, more organized, and certainly more determined. Bahrain will need to put that past dominance aside and focus on its recovery. A win here is not just three points, but a chance to restore confidence and push forward in their pursuit of a first-ever World Cup qualification.

Kick-off is at 7 PM tomorrow at the Bahrain National Stadium, and it promises to be a tense affair with plenty on the line for both sides. Match entry is free for fans to enjoy.