Bahrain edge past Malaysia in thriller | THE DAILY TRIBUNE

TDT | Manama

The Each day Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain took one step nearer to securing their berth within the AFC Asian Cup 2023 final night time following a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Malaysia in a rain-hit match in Kuala Lumpur.

An Ali Haram equaliser and an Abdulla Yusuf penalty earned the all-important three factors for the nationals within the contest, which was performed in entrance of 64,000 followers at Bukit Jalil Nationwide Stadium within the Malaysian capital.

The win was the second in as many video games for the Bahrainis in Group E of qualification. They improved to 6 factors and went to the highest of the desk forward of Malaysia and Turkmenistan, who defeated last-placed Bangladesh 2-1 in yesterday’s different divisional fixture. Bahrain now has only one match left to play on Tuesday towards the Turkmen.

That’s scheduled for a 12.15 pm kickoff, Bahrain time, and it’ll determine their ending place on the group standings. The nationals have to be group winners or a minimum of among the best runners-up from all of the teams to earn a berth at subsequent yr’s Asian Cup. Final night time’s conflict was in peril of being postponed after a heavy downpour blanketed Kuala Lumpur hours earlier than kick-off and drenched the enjoying venue.

The sport finally went forward as scheduled however neither group had been capable of finding a purpose within the opening half of play. After the break, the Malaysians had been the primary to get onto the scoreboard with a Mohamadou Sumareh strike from shut vary within the fifty fifth minute. Sumareh was on the receiving finish of a cross from the left-wing equipped by teammate Ahmad Khuzaimi Bin Piee.

The Bahrainis ought to have executed higher to clear, however Sumareh capitalised on the chance to present his group the lead. The house facet didn’t have lengthy to have fun, nevertheless, as Bahrain replied simply two minutes later.

Some sensible passing from the guests led to the equaliser. A cross from Mahdi Humaidan on the left discovered Mohammed Jassim Marhoon on the fitting of purpose, and he made a brief headed-pass to Haram who wanted simply to faucet the ball house.

That gave Bahrain new life and so they pressed onerous for the winner over the rest of the match. Their efforts had been lastly rewarded when substitute Ali Madan was introduced down within the field by Malaysia goalkeeper Farizal Marlias with simply 10 minutes to go. Bahrain was awarded the penalty and Yusuf stepped ahead to take the kick.

He despatched his shot into the bottom-right nook of the web, with Marlias guessing the improper manner. That proved to be the distinction between the 2 sides within the hotly contested affair. There are 24 groups in all on this remaining spherical of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup 2023. They’ve been divided into six teams, every of which is being performed at a centralised venue. Bahrain is trying to safe their seventh look within the event correct.