Bahrainis go down fighting

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s women’s national futsal team suffered a tough 0-2 defeat to their Thai counterparts yesterday in the NSDF Women’s Futsal Championship 2023, currently being held in Bangkok.

The Bahrainis conceded a goal on either side of half-time.

Thailand’s Patitta Moolpho scored their opener while Paerploy Hujaipetch fired in their second. Despite the loss, the nationals are through to the semi-finals as Group A runners-up.

They will take on Group B winners Japan tomorrow, in a game scheduled for an 11am start, Bahrain time. The other final four contest will be between the Thais and Group B runners-up China.

Moolpho opened the scoring yesterday with a low effort in the seventh minute of the first half. Bahrain tried valiantly to fight back and had a number of near chances, especially after the interval.

Hessa Al Isa, Fatima Hamad and Rawan Al Ali came closest to scoring, but were unlucky with their final touches.

Bahraini goalkeeper Zahra Nezar also did well in the match to prevent the Thais from further adding to their advantage with a number of key saves.

But the hosts eventually did with only a minute remaining in the match and with Bahrain’s Rawan and Nezar constantly making quick substitutions in their search for an equaliser.

A mistake by the formidable Manar Ebrahim allowed number Hujaipetch to steal the ball behind her and needed only to tap it into an empty net to seal the win.

“We are proud of all the players because they played well today,” Bahrain head coach Lino Gomes from Brazil was quoted as saying.

“This game was a very good game. We have experience from playing with the Thai national team and we want a game like this to develop the team further.” Of their semi-final clash with Japan, Gomes said: “Japan is a strong team.

For us, playing with Japan is another great experience. It is another step for us to learn and to show everyone the potential of Bahrain’s women’s national team.

“There is no pressure in our game against Japan, because we have to accept that between Japan and us, the levels are quite different. But it will make the players the happiest regardless of the competition outcome.”

Bahrain have a 14-player squad in Bangkok, that is completed by skipper Yasmeen Fayez, Shaikha Al Anood Al Khalifa, Rose Fayez, Amira Bader, Dalal Abdulla, Kholoud Saleh, Lilia Javed Sabkar, Maryam Abdulla and Iman Ramadan.