Bahrain win West Asian futsal bronze

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain clinched the bronze medals yesterday at the third West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Futsal Championship 2022, which came to a close at Jahez, Saudi Arabia. The Bahrainis secured the podium finish following a hardearned 2-0 victory over Kuwait in the game for third place.

Shaikha Alanood bint Hamad Al Khalifa and Manar Yaqoob were both on target for the nationals in the second half. They scored their goals just four minutes apart. The result earned the Bahrainis their second straight win against their Kuwaiti counterparts in a tournament with a medal on the line.

Bahrain also beat their opponents in the gold medal contest at the third GCC Games in Kuwait last May, when they captured the women’s futsal crown. Shaikha Alanood opened the scoring for the Bahrainis with just under 14 minutes to go in the concluding 20-minute period with a brilliant strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Shaikha Alanood played a one-two with teammate Eman Al Khattal and found some space amidst the Kuwaiti defence. She then unleashed a powerful shot that flew past the right shoulder of Kuwait goalkeeper Yasmeen Abdullah and into the top-left corner of the net. It was the third goal of the competition for Shaikha Alanood.

She also fired in a brace in Bahrain’s win 6-0 over Palestine last week during the group stage. The Bahrainis then doubled their advantage as the match entered its final 10 minutes. After a shot by Leleya Sabkar was blocked by the Kuwaiti defence in front of goal, Manar pounced on the rebound and hit a brilliant volley into the topright corner of the net.

Manar unleashed a mighty effort from less than a metre outside the penalty area, and the opposition had no chance of stopping it. The goal was Manar’s second of the tournament. She scored her other in their rout of their Palestinian rivals in their first game of the championship. Yesterday’s clean sheet earned Bahrain and goalkeeper Zahra Ali their third of the competition, during which they conceded just one goal in four matches.

Also with the result, the Bahrainis completed their tournament campaign behind only hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq, who battled for the gold medals last night in the late fixture. The competition’s awarding ceremony was then held following the final.

Bahrain, coached by Brazilian Lino Gomes, competed with 14 players in the WAFF championship. Aside from Shaikha Alanood, Manar, Eman and Leleya, the team also included skipper Yasmeen Tobellah, Hessa Al Isa, Zahra Ali, Dalal Saleh, Fatema Al Nesuf, Wesal Al Yassi, Amira Sowar, Rose Tobellah, Hajar Al Ansari and Rawan Al Ali.