A late personal objective handed Bahrain their first-ever win over former Asian champions Australia within the third spherical of qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Bahrain has shocked Australia with a 1-0 win courtesy of a late personal objective from defender Harry Souttar within the opening match of the third spherical of Asian qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Bahrainis celebrated wildly after the ultimate whistle at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast on Thursday, having recorded their first-ever win over Australia in seven makes an attempt and making an ideal begin of their bid to qualify for the finals for the primary time.
The Socceroos have been already right down to 10 males after the dismissal of Kusini Yengi, however the Group C contest nonetheless regarded destined to finish goalless till Abdullah Al Khalasi was launched down the left wing trying to get the ball into the field within the 89th minute.
Defender Al Khalasi obtained his cross away from the sting of the realm, and it took a depraved deflection off centre half Souttar, which wrong-footed Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who might solely watch helplessly because the ball went previous him into the web.
The gang of 24,644 who had turned out anticipating a fifth-straight Australia victory have been shocked into silence, and the efforts of the Socceroos to get again on degree phrases in six minutes of stoppage time proved fruitless.
Substitute Mitch Duke had one of the best probability to equalise from an Awer Mabil free kick two minutes from the ultimate whistle, however the striker was unable to get his header on the right track from the centre of the field.
FT | 🇦🇺 Australia 0️⃣-1️⃣ Bahrain 🇧🇭
A late Harry Souttar personal objective presents Bahrain with a dramatic opening day win in Gold Coast!#AsianQualifiers | #AUSvBHR pic.twitter.com/oG5orkjVQ3
— #AsianQualifiers (@afcasiancup) September 5, 2024
“It’s a studying curve for the gamers,” Australia coach Graham Arnold mentioned after the match. “However look, on the finish of the night time, it simply wasn’t our night time.
“In case you put one behind the web in opposition to these nations, they have a tendency to crumble a bit extra. However we didn’t do this and stored them within the recreation.
“Clearly very robust, however you’ve obtained to present full credit score to Bahrain.”
Australia, aiming for a sixth straight look on the World Cup finals, dominated possession however had few clear probabilities and have been annoyed all through the competition by a well-organised and technically adept Bahrain facet.
The Australian trigger was not helped by the crimson card proven to striker Yengi, which diminished the house facet to 10 males for the final 14 minutes.
Yengi obtained his foot too excessive when difficult Ali Haram for the ball and scraped his boot throughout the throat of the Bahrain midfielder. VAR confirmed the dismissal.
Australia journey to Jakarta to face Indonesia of their second group match on Tuesday whereas Bahrain head residence to host Japan in Riffa on the identical day.
The Samurai Blue cruised to a successful begin as they thrashed China 7-0 on the Saitama Stadium.
Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan a two-goal lead on the interval within the Group C conflict earlier than Takumi Minamino hit a second-half brace.
Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo added to the scoreline as China have been comprehensively outplayed.
The highest two groups from every of the three teams progress on to the 2026 finals in america, Mexico and Canada with the third- and fourth-placed groups going into one other spherical of qualifying.
