Bahrain beat India in futsal friendly

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain’s national futsal team posted a 4-0 victory over their counterparts from India last night in an international friendly match played at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

The game was the second exhibition in three days between the two teams, with the hosts winning both.

They had earlier claimed the first meeting with a 3-0 score line.

The tune-ups were held as part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming qualifiers for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024, which are set to take place this October.

The Indians made their international debut in the games in Bahrain.

The nationals have another pair of friendlies scheduled for later this month, both against Iraq on 22 and 24 August, also at home.

On target for the Bahrainis last night were Saleh Ahmed Mukhallaf, Salman Bukhsh and Ammar Hasan Ali, while India’s Nikhil Mali gifted a fourth to the hosts with an own goal.

Mukhallaf opened the scoring after only four minutes with a precision attempt into the bottom corner.

Bukhsh then doubled the Bahrainis’ advantage on the quarter-hour with a shot into the top corner.

That was enough for the 2-0 lead at the half. After the restart, Ali scored from long range to make it 3-0, and then an own goal by Mali just seconds later virtually sealed the win for the nationals.

Bahrain, coached by Brazilian Rafael Fogageiro, are in Group F for their Asian Cup qualification campaign alongside Kuwait, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam.

Their matches are to be held in the Kingdom from 2 to 13 October. The Kingdom is one of the host venues for the eight groups in qualifying.

The Bahrainis are part of a 31-team field set to compete in the qualifiers. The eight group winners will earn automatic berths in next year’s AFC Futsal Asian Cup, along with the seven best-ranked runners-up and the host national team. Bahrain are aiming to qualify for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup for only the fourth time in the competition’s history.

The continental competition also acts as the qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, with five teams from the AFC booking a berth in the global competition, also to be held next year in September and October.