FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S senior men’s football national team were dealt a tough 0-2 defeat against their counterparts from Georgia last night in an international friendly match played at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.
Luka Lochoshvili and Georgian skipper Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who just last week was named Uefa Champions League Player of the Season after helping his club Paris St Germain secure back-to-back European titles, were both on target for the hosts in an eventful second half.
Lochoshvili opened their account with a short stab in the 52nd minute and then Kvaratskhelia doubled their advantage with a 77th minute penalty.
The game was the first of two tune-ups for the Bahrainis within a week’s time during their ongoing European camp. The kingdom’s representatives will also be facing off with Syria’s senior men’s squad in Antalya, Türkiye on Tuesday next week.
The nationals are using the exhibitions as part of their preparations for two major tournaments in the coming months – the 27th Gulf Cup in September and October of this year, which they are entering as defending champions, and the AFC Asian Cup 2027, slated for January and February next year.
In yesterday’s contest, Bahrain’s Croatian head coach Dragan Talajic fielded a starting 11 that featured Mohammed Elgharably between the goal posts; Waleed Al Hayyam, Ahmed Rabeea, Vincent Emmanuel, and Abdulla Al Khalasi on the back line; Omar Saber, Ali Madan, Komail Al Aswad, Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, and captain Sayed Dhiya Saeed in a five-man midfield; and Mohammed Al Rumaihi up front.
The Bahrainis were strong defensively in the first half but did not have any shots on target as the home side controlled possession.
Otar Kiteishvili had an early header collected by Elgharably and later Irakli Egoyan had a fine effort that was marginally wide of the mark. Saba Kharebashvili also came close while Kiteishvili threatened again twice before the break.
Bahrain’s best opportunities were on set pieces, but they could not capitalise.
After the re-start, Georgia needed only seven minutes to take the lead as they took advantage of some porous Bahrain defending.
Kiteishvili sent in a cross from the right wing and an unmarked Lochoshvili right in front of goal was on the receiving end. He snuck past Al Hayyam and tucked the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net, putting his team ahead.
The Georgians were boosted by their opener and began to challenge the visitors even further. Kvaratskhelia almost headed in right before the hour-mark but his attempt hit the crossbar off a cross from Saba Lobjanidze on the left.
Georgia were later awarded a penalty with a quarter-hour remaining after Rabeea appeared to have brought down substitute Giorgi Kvernadze in the box, although television replays suggested otherwise. Kvaratskhelia stepped forward to take the spot kick, and he coolly sent the ball to the bottom-left corner of goal to extend their lead.
The Bahrainis tried to fight back but could not create any decent opportunities against their formidable opponents. They finished with only five chances all game – none of which were on target – while the Georgians created 14 attempts on goal with five on the mark.
Coming on for Bahrain in the second half were Mahdi Humaidan, Mahdi Abduljabbar, Hashem Sayed Issa, Ebrahim Alkhattal, and Abbas Al Asfoor.
The Bahrainis’ next international friendly against Syria on Tuesday will be played at Antalya’s Gloria Sports Arena, and it is scheduled for a 5pm start, Bahrain time.
This year’s Gulf Cup, also known as ‘Khaleeji 27’, is to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Bahrain are in Group B of the preliminary round along with Qatar, the UAE, and Yemen.
In the AFC Asian Cup 2027, which is also to be hosted by Saudi, Bahrain are in Group B for the preliminaries along with Uzbekistan, North Korea, and Jordan.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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