Bahrain rally to take down Qatar
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Brave Bahrain raised their chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the 25th Arab Gulf Cup last night following a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Qatar in their second Group B match of the preliminary round.
Striker Abdulla Yusuf scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.
It followed an equaliser from substitute Komail Al Aswad midway through the second half after the Qataris opened the scoring in the opening 45.
The Bahrainis now have one foot in the final four after winning their second successive match in Group B.
They had previously defeated the UAE with a similar 2-1 score. Bahrain have one game to play in this stage of the competition.
It will be on Friday against Kuwait, who defeated the Emiratis 1-0 in yesterday’s other divisional fixture. Bahrain need only a draw against the Kuwaitis to make it through.
The nationals are now atop the Group B table with six points, followed by Qatar and Kuwait with three points apiece.
The UAE are last with zero markers. All four teams are scheduled to return to the pitch on Friday for the final match day in this stage.
The Bahrainis and Kuwaitis face off at Basra International Stadium while the Qataris take on the UAE at Al Minaa Olympic Stadium.
Both games are scheduled to kick off simultaneously at 6pm.
The matches will determine the final standings in the group and the top two teams move on to the semis, which are set for Monday next week, with the final scheduled for 19 January.
In last night’s contest, Qatar’s Ahmed Alaaeldin found the net in the 34th minute to give his team the early lead, which they took with them into the break.
The Bahrainis valiantly fought back after the re-start and were rewarded with an Al Aswad equaliser in the 72nd minute, just 12 minutes after coming on for Mahdi Abdullatif.
Al Aswad’s shot from the left of the box took a deflection off Qatar’s Mohammed Waad and went into the net, with opposing goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham diving the opposite direction.
The Bahrainis were then awarded a penalty in the final 10 minutes when Waad handled the ball right in front of goal.
Mahdi Humaidan hit a left-footed effort that bounced off the pitch and made contact with Waad’s hand.
After a VAR check by the match referee, the penalty was given and Yusuf stepped up to take the spot kick.
Following a lengthy delay by Barsham, Yusuf sent his effort into the bottom-right corner to give the Bahrainis the lead and eventually the victory.
Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa started a first 11 that was largely different from the team that began their game against the UAE.
Between the posts last night was Ebrahim Luthfallah in goal; while on the back line were Ahmed Al Khalasi, Waleed Al Hayam, Amine Hasan and Mohammed Adel.
Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Abdulwahab Al Malood, Ahmed Madan, Abdullatif and Jassim Al Shaikh were in a five-man midfield; while Abdulla Yusuf was the lone striker.
Bahrain are the reigning Gulf Cup champions.
Their triumph in the 2019 edition was an historic achievement for the national team, having captured the trophy for the first time in nearly 50 years.
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