BAHRAIN outclassed Turkmenistan 4-0 last night in their final qualifying match for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
A brace on either side of half-time gave the hosts the fine result, which helped them earn the number one spot in Group ‘E’ at the end of this third and final qualification campaign.
The result had no bearing, however, on either team’s participation in next year’s continental showcase, as both nations had already booked their berths heading into last night’s match at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Towering striker Abdulla Yusuf supplied both goals in the opening half. After the interval, Sayed Redha Hashim and Abdulla Yaser were both on target within just three minutes of one another to seal the big win.
In yesterday’s other Group ‘E’ contest, Chinese Taipei beat Singapore 1-0 at home.
Following both fixtures, Bahrain finished atop their division with 13 points, with the Turkmen in second with 10. Chinese-Taipei were third on nine points, while Singapore were in last place with just two markers.
Yusuf gave the Bahrainis a fine start when he opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
He received the ball with his back to the goal, turned and fired in a powerful shot that gave no chance for Turkmenistan goalkeeper Orazmuhamedov Mamed.
Yusuf then doubled Bahrain’s lead 12 minutes later when he hit a brilliant volley into the far right corner of goal.
His strike was enough to give the home side the comfortable advantage heading into the break.
After the interval, it was business as usual for Bahrain, and Hashim made it three just four minutes after the hour-mark with a low-hit shot drilled from an acute angle.
Fourth
Then, in the 67th minute, Yaser completed Bahrain’s five-star performance with their fourth goal of the game. He cheekily netted home with a back-heeled shot from close range.
The win was Bahrain’s fourth from six matches in the third and final round of Asian Cup qualifying.
There were 24 teams in all in this stage, divided divided into six groups of four.
Only the top two teams from each group qualified directly for the competition proper.
Other teams to make it through from this stage were India and Kyrgyzstan from Group ‘A’, Lebanon and North Korea from Group ‘B’, Jordan and Vietnam from Group ‘C’, Oman and Palestine from Group ‘D’, and the Philippines and Yemen from Group ‘F’.
Next year’s AFC Asian Cup will be the 17th edition of the prestigious annual championship of Asia, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
It will be held in the UAE in January, marking the second time they are hosting the tournament after the 1996 finals.
Bahrain will be competing in their sixth AFC Asian Cup next year.
The Bahrainis last competed in the 2015 edition. Their best-ever finish was fourth overall in 2004.