Bahrain secure Arab Cup berth
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Ali Haram and substitute Sayed Hashim Isa were both on target as Bahrain booked their berth in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 Friday night, following a thrilling 2-0 victory over Kuwait.
The one-off qualification match was played at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, which will host the regional competition later this year with the participation of 16 Arab national teams.
Bahrain’s win on Friday secured their place in the tournament’s first round, where they will play in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Iraq and Oman.
Haram supplied the game’s opening goal in the 74th minute. The influential midfielder sent the ball home from inside the box after a fine low cross from the right of the penalty area by Mahdi Humaidan.
The unmarked Haram was brilliantly picked out with the assist, and he was able to fire his attempt into the bottom-left corner of the net.
Isa then sealed the victory with his goal in the 94th minute. Some crafty play on a free-kick from Mohammed Marhoon and Sayed Dhiya Saeed allowed Jassim Al Shaikh to find some space on the right of the box. Al Shaikh then perfectly sent in a cross to Isa who was charging towards goal, and he fired in from an acute angle to make it 2-0.
Haram had a few other chances to score earlier in the contest, including Bahrain’s best two opportunities in the first half. Both of his efforts came on headers, each on target and both saved by Kuwait goalkeeper Khaled Al Rashidi.
Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa started the match with a first 11 that included Sayed Mohammed Jaafar, Ahmed Bughammar, Ali Madan, Mohammed Al Rumahi, Haram, Al Shaikh, Sayed Redha Isa, Abdulla Al Hazza, Kumail Alaswad, Humaidan and Rashed Al Hooti.
After the goalless first half, Bahrain were denied a penalty nearing the hour-mark. Humaidan appeared to be fouled as he attacked his defender while entering the area, but Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal would not award the spot kick even after a lengthy review of the play on VAR.
Later on in the game’s closing stages, Jaafar made a brilliant diving save on a Shabaib Alkhaldi shot following a dangerous Kuwait counterattack in the 71st minute.
The Arab Cup will be held from November 30 to December 18 as a prelude to the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament is being delivered by FIFA, and it is seen as a vital opportunity to test operations and facilities ahead of next year’s global showcase.
The FIFA Arab Cup will take place in the same time slot as the World Cup, with the finals of both competitions taking place exactly one year apart.
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