Bahrain outclass Hong Kong in joint-qualifiers
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain wrapped up their campaign in the joint-qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Tuesday night with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Hong Kong at the National Stadium in Riffa.Sayed Hashem Isa had a brace while Sayed Dhiya Saeed and substitute Isameel Abdullatif supplied the other goals in the contest, which was the Bahrainis’ eighth and last assignment in qualification Group C.
Despite the win, the Bahrainis were unable to push through to the next round of World Cup qualifying. The nationals did, however, advance in the Asian Cup qualification.
All four of Bahrain’s goals came after half-time.
Following a goalless first period, it did not take long for Saeed to find the target as the Bahraini skipper was able to squeak in the opener just four minutes after the re-start.
Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai made a pair of fine saves on successive attempts by Saeed and Mahdi Humaidan. But on the ensuing high rebound, Saeed was able to outjump his markers and get enough of touch with a header to send the ball past the goal line.
Just five minutes later, Isa doubled Bahrain’s advantage from the penalty spot. The influential forward was tripped in the area by Hong Kong’s Huang Yang, and he stepped up to take the penalty himself, which he fired into the left of the goal.
Isa then made it 3-0 in the 70th minute after some crafty, quick passing from his teammates. Mohammed Marhoon found an unmarked Rashed Alhooti on the left of the box, and the wily defender sent in a low cross to a perfectly positioned Isa in the face of goal, and he needed only to tap the ball home.
Abdullatif then applied the final nail in the coffin a minute before full time with Bahrain's second penalty of the game after fellow-sub Ali Madan was taken down in the area by Hong Kong’s Chung Wai Keung. Abdullatif made no mistake with his spot-kick, which he placed into the bottom-right corner.
The result earned Bahrain their fourth win in Group C as they finished with 15 points. The nationals lost just once in their eight games while drawing the three other times. Hong Kong suffered their fifth loss and wrapped up the joint-qualifiers with five points.
Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa fielded Tuesday night a starting 11 that included Sayed Mohammed Jaafar in goal; Ahmed Bughammar, Abdulla Al Hazza, Ahmed Merza and Alhooti in defence; Saeed, Mohammed Abdulwahab, Kumail Alaswad and Humaidan in midfield; and the strike-partnership of Isa and Abbas Al Asfoor.
There were eight groups in all in this now-completed second round of joint-qualifiers, with five nations in each group. To end this stage, the eight group winners and the four best runners-up advanced to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and also secured their Asian Cup berths.
The next best 24 teams, which includes Bahrain, will compete in a separate competition for 12 remaining Asian Cup slots.
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