Bahrain through to Asian beach soccer quarters

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain secured their tickets to the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup despite losing 0-2 yesterday to hosts Thailand in their concluding match of the tournament’s preliminary round.

On target for the home team were Tanandon Praracha in the 20th minute, and then Watchara Lepajit fired in the Thais’ second goal a minute from full time.

To add to the Bahrainis’ woes, skipper Rashed Jamal was sent off in the 35th minute.

The nationals suffered their first setback of the competition with the result but still made it through to the next phase as runners-up in Group A.

They finished behind the Thais, who had a superior goal difference, with both sides finishing on six points apiece.

Saudi Arabia were third in their pool while Afghanistan last.

The Saudis beat their Afghan rivals 4-2 on penalties in yesterday’s other Group A fixture.

The match was tied at 4-4 after extra-time. Bahrain now move on to face Iran in the round of eight, while Thailand take on the UAE.

Both games are scheduled for tomorrow at the Jomtien Beach Arena in Pattaya.

The Iranians finished as winners of Group B, ahead of the Emiratis. Uzbekistan and Malaysia followed.

The other two quarter-final games will be determined today after the conclusion of the Group C and Group D contests.

Japan currently lead China, Lebanon and Indonesia on the Group C table while Oman top Group D ahead of Kuwait, Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

Those quarters matches will be held on Thursday.

The semi-finals then follow on Saturday and both the gold and bronze medal games on Sunday, the concluding day of the championship.

Bahrain are one of 16 teams competing in the continent’s premier beach soccer tournament, which has been organised and is being run by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

It also acts as a qualification competition for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with the two finalists set to book their tickets to the global championship, along with the UAE, who qualified automatically as hosts. If the UAE are in the final, the bronze-medallists will make it through.