Bahrain bow to Australia

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain suffered a tough 0-2 defeat to continental powerhouses Australia last night in an international friendly match played at Baniyas Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Bahraini defender Amine Benadi sent the ball into his own net in the first half to gift their opponents the advantage.

Mitchell Duke then sealed the win for the Australians, nicknamed the “Socceroos”, in a contest they mostly controlled.

The tune-up was part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, which kicks off in Doha on Friday.

The Kingdom’s senior men’s national football team are currently in the UAE for their final training camp leading up to the continental showcase.

Yesterday’s game was one of two tune-ups they are playing there.

The Bahrainis are scheduled to return to the pitch for an informal friendly against African side Angola on Wednesday, after which they depart for the Qatari capital the next day for the AFC Asian Cup. Last night’s fixture pitted Bahrain against one of the strongest teams in the world and in all of Asia.

Australia are currently 25th on the FIFA World Ranking and fourth in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), while Bahrain are 86th in the world and 12th-best in the continent.

The nationals had lost their previous five meetings against the “Socceroos”, and with last night’s result the streak has been extended to six.

Bahrain head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi fielded a starting 11 that included Ebrahim Luthfallah between the posts, to go with Benadi, Abdulla Al Khalasi, Waleed Al Hayyam, Mohammed Adel, Mohammed Al Hardan, Moses Atede, Jassim Khelaif, Komail Al Aswad, Ali Madan and Abdulla Al Hashash.

Volley Lutfhallah made an impressive save in the 20th minute on a powerfully hit low volley by Australia’s Connor Metcalfe.

Teammate Craig Goodwin then missed a golden opportunity in the 31st minute when his shot from close range, while unmarked, went well off target.

Australia took the lead in the 35th minute with Benadi’s gaffe. Goodwin sent in a cross from the left wing, and Benadi inadvertently sent the ball the wrong way in an effort to clear.

The error gave the Australians the lead heading into the half.

Close to a quarter-hour after the restart, Bahrain appealed for a penalty after the ball appeared to touch the arm of Aiden O’Neill, but the referee denied the Bahraini players’ plea.

Soon after, Australia doubled their advantage.

Duke sent a header home into an empty net in the 61st minute off a headed pass from Goodwin across the face of goal. Goodwin had received a long cross from the right from O’Neill before supplying his assist. Bahrain had only a handful of chances in the game.

Substitute Mohammed Marhoon came on in the second half and had a freekick fly over the crossbar. In the highly anticipated AFC Asian Cup, the Bahrainis are in Group E along with South Korea, Malaysia and Jordan.

Bahrain kick off their campaign against the South Koreans on 15 January, and then take on their Malaysian counterparts on 20 January.

They complete the preliminary stage against Jordan on 25 January.