FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN suffered a heart-breaking 0-1 defeat to China last night in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the Fifa World Cup 2026.
Just minutes after a VAR review disallowed a goal by Bahrain’s Ali Haram in the dying minutes of regulation, Chinese forward Zhang Yuning slotted home from close range in the opening minute of injury time.
That was enough to separate the two sides and earn the visitors the full three points in a stunning finish at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Adding insult to injury, the Bahrainis were reduced to 10 men in the 99th minute after veteran defender Waleed Al Hayyam was given his marching orders for a foul on Wang Ziming, which denied him a quick counter and a potential one-on-one with Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah.
With the result, the Bahrainis suffered their second loss in this stage of qualification – both at home – as they stayed on five points after five games.
The nationals could not take advantage of the opportunity to climb on the Group C standings after Australia and Saudi Arabia played to a goalless stalemate in yesterday’s other divisional fixture, held at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia.
Following their second straight win, China leapfrogged Bahrain on the table and are now tied with the Australians and Saudis on six points apiece. They are all behind leaders Japan, who have 10 points and who are in action today against Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The game is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off, Bahrain time.
The Bahrainis’ match with China last night was the first of two fixtures only five days apart as this phase of continental qualification heats up and enters its latter half. The nationals are back in action on Tuesday – once again at home at the National Stadium – against Australia, who they defeated 1-0 in their opening qualifying match of round three away. That contest is scheduled for a 9.15pm kick-off and it will be both teams’ sixth assignments.
In last night’s affair, Luthfallah came up with a pair of crucial saves that helped keep his team in the thick of the fight.
In the 11th minute, he denied Yuning an early goal with a diving left-handed stop on the opposing striker’s shot from close range. It was a tremendous save on a promising chance for China. The Bahrain international goalkeeper then kept out a Yuning header from the face of goal in the 53rd minute, keeping the match scoreless heading into its closing half-hour.
Five minutes later, Bahrain’s Mohammed Jassim Marhoon was brought down in the box by Yang Zexiang following a clever, back-heeled pass from teammate Mahdi Abduljabbar. But the Bahrainis’ calls for a penalty went unheard by the referee.
Substitute Ebrahim Al Khattal then came close for the home side with a header in the 76th minute that was saved by China’s Wang Dalei. It was the best chance for Bahrain at the time, with Marhoon supplying the cross from the right wing.
That set the stage for Haram’s goal, which came off a fine lob pass from substitute Abdulwahab Al Malood three minutes from full time. Haram showed his brilliant individual skill after receiving the pass on his chest, setting up a shot with his ensuing kick, which he slotted home.
That sent the national team into wild celebration, but it was short-lived as a VAR review ruled out Haram’s potential winner.
The nationals then conceded Yuning’s decisive strike in the 91st minute. He hit a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom-right corner of the net off a short pass from the left by Wang Haijian.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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