Late Equaliser Denies Reds Friendly Win

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Ahmed Alaaeldin’s 87th-minute goal salvages a draw in Doha

Qatar and Bahrain shared the spoils in a lively friendly in Doha, with the match finishing 2-2 on yesterday evening.

Mohammed Muntari put the hosts in front after 18 minutes, steering Qatar into an early lead. But the visitors responded after the break, turning the game on its head in the space of just four minutes.

Komail Al Aswad levelled from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute, before Ibrahim Al Khattal struck to make it 2-1 shortly after.

Qatar, however, refused to be beaten and found a late equaliser through Ahmed Alaaeldin in the 87th minute to ensure honours ended even.

The match, played at Al Thumama Stadium, was the first of two official tune-ups for Bahrain during the current FIFA international window. The Reds, coached by Croatian Dragan Talajic, are also set to face the UAE in Dubai on Monday as part of their build-up to the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in December, also to be staged in Doha.

Talajic has called up 31 players for this period, including the likes of Mohammed Marhoon, Sayed Dhiya Saeed, Mahdi Humaidan, and Komail Al Aswad.

For Qatar, Spanish coach Julien Lopetegui named a 26-man squad featuring regulars Akram Afif, Bassam Al Rawi, Pedro Miguel, and Mohammed Muntari.

Bahrain head into these fixtures looking to rebuild momentum following their disappointing exit from the third round of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in June. They last saw action in a training camp in Slovenia in July, where they played a series of friendlies against European clubs.