BAHRAIN last night sealed a berth in the AFC Futsal Championship to be held in Turkmenistan next year.
The nationals suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat against Iraq in a closely fought match last night at Khalifa Sports City, but their crucial 2-0 victory over Kuwait on Saturday and a 3-3 draw against the UAE on the opening day saw them finish second in Group ‘A’ and book a berth in the final.
Bahrain finished ahead of the UAE on goal difference, with both on seven points, while Kuwait emerged group winners with nine points.
Iraq went ahead through Waleed Khalid Al Mayali’s 13th minute goal while hosts Bahrain equalised with Talal Ali Alnaar’s strike in the 18th minute to go into half-time on level terms.
The second-half was a tight affair with both teams having chances to take the lead but it was Iraq who eventually made the breakthrough with Fahad Methaq Al Azzawi striking the winner three minutes from time.
UAE, who came from behind to defeat Palestine 5-4 in yesterday’s earlier match, will face Oman in the play-off tomorrow to decide the West Zone’s fifth team in the finals.
UAE needed to win to at least assure themselves third place in the group and they promptly took the lead through Abdulla Juma Almheiri in the 11th minute.
Palestine, having lost all three of their previous matches, were determined to end their campaign on a high and responded through Ahmed Mohammed, who drew them level in the 17th minute.
Rashid Shawahna put them ahead in the 19th minute but there was to be more for Palestine as Adnan Salloum widened their advantage just before the break.
UAE responded almost immediately when the second-half started as Hamdan Abdulla Alkatheeri narrowed the deficit in the 21st minute.
Boosted by the goal, UAE pressed hard and despite some valiant defending by Palestine, Mohammad Obaid Mohammad levelled the tie in the 32nd minute.
Lead
Palestine kept their heads up and Salloum restored their lead two minutes later as UAE were again forced to chase the game.
They did that in magnificent fashion as Ahmad Hussain Hammad scored the equaliser in the 38th minute and, in a dramatic finish, Abdulkarim Jamil Hezam hit the winner in the dying seconds.
Lebanon and Saudi Arabia confirmed their places for next year’s finals from Group ‘B’.
Lebanon finished on top with nine points while the Saudis were second on four.
In the last round of matches yesterday, Lebanon routed Qatar 8-1 while Saudi Arabia and Oman drew 4-4.
A total of 16 teams qualify to play in the finals in 2020, including Turkmenistan who qualified automatically as hosts.
The qualification process is divided into four zones: Asean Zone, where the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship will serve as the qualifying competition, Central and South Zone (Nepal being the only team from South Zone entering), East Zone and West Zone.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the finals.