Bahrain to Face Vietnam After Edging Malaysia in Asian Beach Football

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain kicked off their AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup campaign with a close 4-3 win over Malaysia on Friday in their Group D opener at Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach Arena. It was a match that teetered on the edge until Isa Ghaleb found the net with seconds to spare, clinching three points for Bahrain on the tournament’s opening day.

 The starting eleven featured: Ahmed Abdulrasool, Hussain AlDoseri, Isa AlDoseri, Ali Husnain, and talisman Isa Ghaleb. The sandy pitch saw a back-and-forth affair, Malaysia clawing level more than once before Ghaleb’s late strike settled it. Bahrain’s captain, Hussain Aldoseri, didn’t hide his relief after the whistle: “That was hard work. The team dug in, and it means a lot to everyone back home.”

 With Oman also starting strong—thumping Vietnam 7-1 earlier—Bahrain sit joint-top of their group. The event, hosted in Thailand until March 30, is a gateway to the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, and Bahrain’s next test comes today against a Vietnam side eager to bounce back.

 Malaysia, for all their fight, left with nothing but a point to prove against Oman next. For Bahrain, it’s a first step in a tricky group, and one they’ll hope keeps their World Cup dream on track.