FOOTBALL – Ten-man Bahrain suffered a disappointing start to their Fifa Arab Cup 2025 campaign last night, losing to Iraq 1-2 in their tightly contested opening Group D fixture, played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar.
An Ebrahim Lutfhallah own goal and a Mohanad Ali strike midway through the first half helped lift the Iraqis to the victory.
The kingdom’s senior men’s squad tried valiantly to fight back and Sayed Hashem Isa gave them some hope with a goal in the 78th minute, but it was eventually a lone consolation.
The Bahrainis were then reduced to 10 men three minutes into second-half stoppage time after substitute Ebrahim Al Khattal was shown a red card for an unsportsmanlike foul on Iraq’s Amjed Attwan.
The result put the nationals in last place on their four-nation table, with defending champions Algeria, who were also reduced to 10 men, being held to a goalless draw by Sudan in yesterday’s other divisional clash, played at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in the Qatari capital.
The Bahrainis will be looking to bounce back when they face off with the Algerians in their next assignment on Saturday at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium.
It is scheduled for a 4.30pm kick-off, while Iraq and Sudan clash that same evening at Stadium 974 at 7pm.
Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic fielded a starting 11 yesterday that included Lutfhallah, Amine Benaddi, Waleed Al Hayyam, Abdulla Al Khalasi, Vincent Emmanuel, Sayed Dhiya Saeed, Komail Al Aswad, Ali Madan, Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Mahdi Humaidan and Mohammed Al Rumaihi.
Iraq went ahead after only 10 minutes when Lutfhallah inadvertently sent the ball into his own net.
Iraq’s Ali Jasim attempted to score with a header from close range off a cross from the left sent in by teammate Aymen Hussein.
Luthfallah was up to the task and made a leaping stop with both hands, but he could not control the ball, and as he came down in an awkward position, it bounced off his leg and into goal.
Luthfallah appeared to have suffered an injury during the play and a few minutes later needed to be stretchered off the pitch, with reserve custodian Omar Salem replacing him.
Bahrain fell further behind in the 25th minute when Iraq’s Ali fired in from inside the box.
Sajjad Jasim attempted a shot from outside the area but it went straight to Ali, who was right in the face of goal. He then hit a turning shot past Salem for the 2-0 advantage.
The strike was originally disallowed as Ali appeared to be in an offside position, but following a VAR review, the goal was given.
Minutes before the break, Benaddi made an important clearance to prevent a third goal from their opponents.
Ali had a lobbed effort that beat Salem, but Benaddi was able to kick the ball to safety before it made its way into an empty net.
Marhoon had a chance to cut the deficit in the 42nd minute with a shot following some brilliant dribbling skill, but his left-footed effort flew inches wide of the left post.
Two minutes after the interval, Humaidan had an opportunity on a counter following a fine through-pass by Marhoon.
But his powerful shot was on the wrong side of the right post.
Isa then got one back for Bahrain in the 79th minute. He was on the receiving end of a low cross from the left delivered by Al Khalasi, who did well with his approach.
The pass was not dealt with by the Iraq back line and Isa pounced on the opportunity, guiding the ball past Iraq’s Ahmed Basil with a single touch.
The Bahrainis continued to pile on the pressure in search of an equaliser, but were unlucky in their efforts.
In injury time, Al Khattal was given his marching orders after reacting to a foul from Attwan, who had also come on as a substitute.
Al Khattal headbutted his opponent and the match referee didn’t hesitate to show him red.
Following Bahrain’s next assignment on Saturday, they play their final Group D game against Sudan on Tuesday next week at Education City Stadium, slated for an 8pm kick-off.
Elsewhere in this year’s Fifa Arab Cup, Group A features Syria, Palestine, Qatar, and Tunisia, Group B is composed of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Comoros; and Group C includes the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait.
This year’s tournament is its 11th edition and it is taking place for the second time under its current format organised by Fifa.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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