Manama: Bahrain crashed to a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Uzbekistan in the fourth game of the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asia Cup qualifiers at the Bahrain National Stadium yesterday.
The loss virtually ended Bahrain’s chances of qualifying to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers and gaining direct entry to the Asia Cup.
The top eight teams in each of the eight groups will qualify for the third round and also gain direct entry to the Asia Cup along with the four best second-placed teams.
The remaining three teams in the eight groups will continue to battle for a place in the Asia cup.
Bahrain coach Sergio Batista played his usual formation of 4-1-4-1 with Sayed Mohammed Jaffar in goal. Abdulla Alhazaa, Hussain Baba, Rashid Al Hooti and Abdulla Omar were in defence while Sayed Adnan played as the lone defensive midfielder behind Sayed Dhiya, Sayed Ahmed Jaffar, Abdulwahab Al Malood and Sami Al Hussainy. Abdulla Yusuf was alone up front.
Uzbekistan’s national team coach Samvel Babayan depended on Aleksandr Lobanov in goal with Oslom Tuhtahujaev, Anzur Ismailov and Egor Krimets in defence. Azizbek Haydarov, Server Djeparov, Odil Akhmedov, Sardor Rashidov, Igor Sergeev and Stanislav Andreev were in midfield while Marat Bikmaev was the striker.
Bahrain tried to control the tempo of the first half by keeping as much possession as possible and managed to keep away any significant danger from their opponents on goal.
However, the second half saw Uzbekistan play a more attacking game.
Igor Sergeev gave Uzbekistan the first goal in the 52nd minute after putting a low cross in the back of the net.
As Bahrain’s defence pushed up to find an equaliser, Odil Akhmedov managed to extend Uzbekistan’s lead in the 56th minute after his shot rolled past Bahrain goalkeeper Jaffar.
Bahrain players seemed to lose hope as they failed to pose any threat.
The 66th minute of the game saw Sardor Rashidov of Uzbekistan secure his team’s three points with a well-placed shot from inside the box.
Batista depended on his substitutes, recent call-ups Ismael Abdelatif and Abdulwahab Ali, but they failed to produce any positive outcome.
As the dying minutes of the game approached, Babayan subbed 20 year-old Eldor Shomurdov whos quick impact was clear as he scored his team’s fourth and final goal of the night.
Bahrain’s next fixture will see them face the Philippines on Tuesday at Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa.